Cricket: Hamilton Boys' seeking title hat-trick

Tauranga Boys' batsman Sean Dykes strokes away a boundary during the Super Eight tournament underway in Tauranga. Photo / John Borren

Hamilton Boys' High School will be chasing their third successive Super Eight Cricket crown on the final day of the annual tournament in Tauranga today.

The big match-up on day three was the encounter between ND secondary school heavyweights Hamilton Boys and Tauranga Boys College, with the winner earning a berth in today's title decider.

Hamilton took first use of the batting crease at Tauranga Boys headquarters at Nicholson Field. Half-centuries to Matti Clarke and Jacob Gibson got the Waikato School away to a good start with Hamilton going on to post 220/9.

The Tauranga Boys' turn at bat was one-way traffic with the home side being rolled for just 54. Hamilton bowler Brayden Gaylor did real damage taking four wickets for only six runs.

Hamilton's easy victory gives them a real shot at a three-peat of Super Eight titles.

Their opponents in the grand final will be Palmerston North Boys' High School, who will also take an unbeaten 2015 Super Eight record into the title decider. The Manawatu side also cruised into the final with a ten-wicket victory over Hastings Boys' High.

Hastings mustered 149, with Xavier Hill batting at nine top-scoring with 44. The Hawkes Bay side was in real trouble at 102/9, with the last wicket partnership of 47 runs giving them some respectability.

Palmerston North cruised to victory without losing a wicket. Whetu Na Ngagara smashed 72 from 85 balls while Charles Parker posted an unbeaten 51 with victory coming in the 28th over.

In other matches, Tauranga Boys' College 2nd XI posted 160/9 with New Plymouth Boys' chasing down their target for the loss of four wickets, while Napier Boys' beat Gisborne Boys'.