Wanganui's Year 6 cricketers roar through Hawke's Bay

Jimmy Lithgow proved handy with ball in hand during the Wanganui Year 6 Development team's unbeaten run in Hawkes Bay.

Enjoying the company of several top team ring-ins, the Ray White Wanganui Year 6 Development side went through their Hawkes Bay Cricket Camp unbeaten.

The team won five from five matches, with several players from the top Year 6 team staying on from their tournament to allow the younger players the opportunity to have their own tournament.

Wanganui took on Collegians from Wellington in their first match, scoring 144 with Charlie Meredith and Connor Rees getting 30's and Archie Davidson supporting well.

They then restricted Collegians to 132 with Jimmy Lithgow best of the bowlers with 2-6.
In the second match, Porirua batted first and with some tight bowling were restricted to 98.

Bowler Awanui Rice Edwards was lively with his 3-10, well supported by Hamish Cranstone with 2-7.

Wanganui's batsmen all contributed to the chase, with a bright little innings by Ryan Meredith at the end getting them home.

Wanganui batsmen went on the charge against Brooklyn in the third match, making a blistering 198 off the 30 overs.

Charlie Meredith top-scored with 44 not out, Connor Rees 32 retired and Jimmy Lithgow 32 not out were the chief destroyers.

Brooklyn struggled from the start, eventually bundled out for 130, as Riley Sommerville bowled a great line and length to get 3-12.

Game four was against Eastern Suburbs where the Wanganui batsmen continued their great form, scoring 157.

Campbell McKerras bludgeoned 32 and Connor Rees made another 30 retired.

The Wanganui bowlers got on top early with McKerras rounding off a superb allrounder's match with 3-18, while Ryan Meredith was tidy also with 2-10.

The final game was against Dannevirke, a team which had been together for three years.
Dannevirke batted first and made a solid 126, with Rees getting 2-0 and Lithgow 2-4, while there was a special fielding performance by Logan McKerras, being part of three dismissals.

After a shaky start, Wanganui got into their stride with Sommerville batting beautifully to make his highest ever score of 30 and Rees continuing his remarkable form getting 30 retired.

Rees has definitely been one of the star players across both Year 6 tournaments, scoring 286 runs and was only dismissed once.

Overall the Year 6 results from the two tournaments were outstanding with 10 wins and one loss, which is very positive for the future of Wanganui cricket.