Cricket: Showdown for juniors' trophy battle

Sean West took five wickets for 10 against Hamilton. Photo / NZME.

Northland junior cricketers are in a battle with Waikato Valley today to determine who will bring home the 2014 Northern Districts Junior Boys Secondary School Trophy.

The team have played some stunning cricket to earn their final berth at the tournament, being hosted by the Counties-Manukau Cricket Association in South Auckland, but they have yet to really put in a perfect performance - and coaching staff are hoping they have left their best until last.

The team's bowling talent is unquestioned and they had perennial favourites Hamilton on the rack at six for 16 in Wednesday's semifinal.

Sean West, with five wickets for 10 off 11, led the way but, despite having their opposition nine down for 65, the tail wagged and the final batting pair got Hamilton to a defendable total of 156.

It was all a bit tense after the Northland top order went quite cheaply but an unbeaten partnership of 86 between Caleb Boswell-Smith (52no) and Austin Ryburn (35no) got the team home for the loss of four wickets.

It has been a good tournament for Boswell-Smith, who was among the wickets on Monday as Northland got a good start to the tournament.

In a rain-reduced match, Boswell-Smith and Owen Arthur took three wickets apiece as Northland kept Bay of Plenty Lakelands to 73/8 in their 17 overs. Northland cruised to a winning total in just 12.5 overs.

On Monday afternoon, they defeated a Northern Districts Invitational side, featuring Northland players Luke Pille and Jacques de Beer, by 29 runs.

The side's supporters had less to applaud on Tuesday, with the bowlers adding 35 wides to Counties-Manukau's total of 225. Fortunately, Northland's batsmen rescued them and they passed the Counties total with just two balls to spare, with Van Grooby top-scoring with 59, supported by good knocks by Lewis Miller (45) and Quinn Pooley (38).

Waikato Valley won the toss and chose to bat in the first innings of their two-day final yesterday morning, at Mountford Park.