Kamo Intermediate School unbeaten at national tournament - so far

Kamo Intermediate School is unbeaten at a national tournament where the team is vying to become the best primary/intermediate Twenty 20 cricket team in New Zealand.

The Kamo side is representing Northern Districts at the ActivePost Cup a national Twenty 20 tournament in Palmerston North which features six primary/intermediate schools from each of the country's cricket districts.

Yesterday, the team shared points with Medbury School (Canterbury), after the tournament's opening matches at Ongley Park were abandoned due to heavy overnight rain.

The opening game was played at new venue Hokowhitu Park against Balmacewan Intermediate School (Otago) with Kamo amassing 95 - 5 wickets off its twenty overs.

Sam Webb (23) and Alex Gordon - 17 off 14 balls- led the batting effort.

An outstanding fielding effort then saw Balmacewan bowled out for 76, in 19 overs.

Two outfield catches worthy of Classic Catch status helped turn the match for Kamo.

The first was a two-handed diving effort in the covers to Cam Gordon, and the second left even the umpires in awe after Kian Bird - a left hander - dived to his right and took the ball with one hand, centimetres off the ground.

Andre Luiten then mopped up the tail, taking three wickets for no runs off 7 balls.

Pace bowler Max Turner (2-8) and off spinner Sam Webb (2-10) also chipped in with wickets.

The match was played in windy conditions, with bowlers at the venue's eastern end struggling into a steady westerly breeze that gusted up to more than 40 knots.

Team manager and Kamo Intermediate School principal Paul Shepherd said it was a team effort and showed the belief the boys had in each other.

The team play Kings Prep (Auckland) and Hereworth School (Central Districts) today (Thursday).

On Friday, KIS plays Hutt International Boys School (Wellington).