Cricket: Juniors make it to semis

Northland's Junior Secondary School cricket side has lost the semifinal of the Northern Districts Tournament.

Northland's Junior Secondary School cricket side's run of success at an annual five-day tournament has ended with a semifinal loss.

Northland had won through to yesterday's semifinal against Counties-Manukau after two wins from the first two days of the Northern Districts tournament at Weymouth Oval, in Auckland's Manurewa.

On Day Three, Northland won the toss and batted first, putting together 182 off 48.3 overs. However, Counties-Manukau got off to a flying start and were well ahead of the required 3.75 run rate throughout, chasing down the total in the 35th over, with 7wickets to spare.

Opener Toby Seabrook took to the Northland bowlers early on, before falling at 42, caught by Northland captain Kurt Oldridge off the bowling of Jacob Wood. Counties-Manukau batter Hayden Dickson continued his sides's early momentum, ending with 82 off 76 balls. Andrew Carney hit four off the only ball he faced to win the match.

Wood was the pick of the Northland bowlers, taking 2-36 off seven overs.

For Northland, wicket-keeper Luke Trigg had anchored the innings with 51 off 123 balls, after losing his opening partner Sam Webb for 9 in the eighth over. Ollie White (23) and Richard Stobart (16) also contributed before 22 off 24 balls from the promoted Akashdeep Pundir gave Northland's run rate a much needed boost.

For Counties, Hugo Hill bowled a miserly 1-9 spell off six overs. Counties also snared three run-outs, including Oldridge (1) who on Tuesday had helped his side into the semi with a patient 69 NO from 147 balls. Northland had defeated Hamilton by 13 runs on day two, scoring 187-9 in their 50 overs. Oldridge was supported by Trigg (18) and Pundir (20), who added 47 with Oldridge for the last wicket.

In reply, Hamilton were dismissed for 174 in the 48th over, with Oldridge taking 4-28 off 8 tidy overs. Wood and Webb had each chipped in with two wickets.

The team had recorded two T20 wins from two games on the first day of the tournament, beating the Northern Districts Invitational XI by 6 wickets in a very close contest. They then secured a 38 run victory over Bay of Plenty Lakelands in the afternoon..

The side plays off today for third spot against Bay of Plenty Coastlands.