Honours to Napier's Blues in Colts clash

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Napier Boys' High School Blues proved too strong for Gisborne Boys' High Colts in a 40-overs cricket fixture at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday.

The Blues beat GBHS by 159 runs after captain Joseph Hay-Mackenzie won the toss and chose to bat.

First-drop Reef Bairstow-Wootton led their charge to 265-8 with a run-a-ball 71.

Matthew Marshall (55) and Oliver Beale (36) shared a 108-run stand for the first wicket while Monty Field, at No.5, made 34.

GBHS captain and leg-spinner Dylan Foster took two wickets for 57 runs in eight overs and wicketkeeper-cum-medium-pacer Luke Fisher took 2-23 off five overs.

Cory Thomson (1-26 off 4) held a great catch off fellow seamer Alex Shanks (1-11 off 2) as the hosts bowled 12 of the 13 players used on the day.

In response, GBHS were bowled out for 106 in 25.4 overs.

No.8 George Gillies was their best with 29 from 38 balls in a 45-minute knock.

Vice-captain Noah Torrance-Cribb made 27 at No.5.