Cricket: Gillette hopes alive after 5-wicket win

Under the watchful eye of umpire Dilan Raj, WHS bowler Caleb Martin sends one down to Collegiate's Mikaire Teki during yesterday's Wanganui regional final of the Gillette Cup series at Victoria Park. Photo/Bevan Conley

The Wanganui High School 1st X1 kept their Gillette Cup hopes alive with a five wicket drubbing of Wanganui Collegiate at Victoria Park yesterday.

WHS took to the field first in the 50-over match and held Collegiate to just 81 runs.

Dylan Martin did a fair bit of damage with the ball, taking four wickets for 29 runs off nine overs.

Team mate Andrew Mackintosh chipped in and took three wickets for six off six overs.

Jess Watkin, the only girl in the team and a regular Saturday player against the lads, played wicket keeper for the first 17 overs before drinks. She relinquished the gloves to newcomer and Year 9 student Griffen Culver who took a fine catch behind and stumped another. Watkin claimed a wicket for just 13 runs off five overs.

WHS ended the low scoring match with 84, losing just five wickets in the process.

The victory was WHS' third over Collegiate in the Wanganui regional final of the Gillette Cup national series after beating their arch rivals in the 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons before yesterday.

WHS will now play the winner of the upcoming match between Francis Douglas College and New Plymouth Boys High and the victor from that game will progress through to a Central Districts regional final in Palmerston North.

Safely through those games WHS has the chance of claiming the Gillette Cup itself at the national finals in Christchurch in December.