His 116-run partnership with Harvey Reynolds (an unbeaten 56) for the second wicket, following a 48-run stand between Reynolds and his fellow opener Jack Roberts (20 off 25 balls), was top-drawer batsmanship.
Roberts fell to a great wrong’un which went through the gate — marvellous cricket — five balls into leg-spinner Rajbir Jubbal's second over.
On a beautiful day, with a light easterly breeze, McInnes had earlier won the coin toss and chosen to bowl on a low-bouncing wicket.
Norths were all-out for 163 in 40 overs, with seventh man Gokul Sadguna making his side's highest individual score (39 from 48 balls). Classy left-hander Aditya Panigrahy also played a fine hand with an unbeaten 27 from No.9.
Reynolds was brought on at first-change and took 2-8 in five overs of leg spin, while new-ball bowler Cody McMurray (1-12-5) and Jack Williams (1-11-4), the third paceman used, all put pressure on Norths' top order batsmen.
Wicket-keeper Archie Gillies effected a stumping and held two excellent catches.
Conrad Parkes at mid-wicket also held very sharp chances to account for Sadguna and Jubbal (10 from No.8).
No.10 Harshit Kumar was in good form and on 15 when, having hit the ball down the ground, he turned back and was run out four paces from his crease by Reuben Walsh.
NCCC coach Kevin Summerhayes was hugely impressed by the Gisborne crew.
"They were great ambassadors for their school and played excellent cricket," he said.
"They were energetic — the batsmen from both teams had to run their runs — and kept two opening bowlers in Cooper France (outswing), Harshit Kumar (left-arm inswing), wicketless."
Game 2 — despite a winning margin to Collegians of 30 runs — was a nail-biter.
Isaac Thompson won the toss and opted to bat on Frimley 2, his Collegians side being bowled out for 116 in 35.1 overs.
Ninth man to bat the diminutive technician Teddy Zohrab-Stewart (25 off 44 balls) and the more aggressive Myles Macdonald (21 in 46, batting at seven) were at the heart of the Wellingtonians' recovery from 4-14, even as Parkes (3-13-6) and Reynolds (1-28-6) spun a web.
William Edginton (2-15-5) and McMurray (2-13-5) made intelligent use of the new ball, Williams took 1-9-4 and McInnes (1-12-5) bowled Zohrab-Stewart to end the innings.
Collegians coach Stafford Thompson said Macdonald's fighting effort was one of the talented all-rounder's best innings for the side.
The Wellington outfit's pace attack ramped things up from the resumption.
Though early on three chances behind the wicket didn't go to hand, spearhead Isaac Thompson (1-9-5, three maiden overs) and his fellow fast bowlers Henry Thompson (3-5-6 overs, two maidens), Jack Bagshaw (2-15-8, three maidens) and Jake Charity (2-18-5) were outstanding.
Reynolds (17) and McInnes (24) again topped Gis Int's run-scorers and shared their side's biggest partnership of 24 for the second wicket.
Milne's team was dismissed for 86 in 36.1 overs. The stickability of Gillies, who at No.7 made 4 not-out off 52
balls, earned the gloveman Player of the Day recognition from his opponents.
On Monday McInnes won the toss and his bowlers restricted Onslow Whitu to 150-9.
Numbers 7, 10 and 11 — Tomssi Scott (20), Taane Walker (28 not out) and Senul Jayaweera (20 not out) hauled their team to a competitive total, despite the best efforts of Parkes, with 2-15 in five overs, and his captain with 2-25-7 including three maiden overs.
In response, Gisborne Intermediate were bowled out for 78 in 35 overs. Reynolds, batting at No.3, made 19 but the next best score was 9 by Jack Roberts.
Parkes (5) and Roberts shared in Gis Int's biggest partnership, 17 at the top of the order.
Neel Jaishankeer was Onslow’s most successful bowler on the day, with 3-7 in three overs. No.10 Reuben Walsh's 6 not-out from 43 balls was an innings of dedication and grit.
