CD build strong start

Aucklander Yasmeen Kareem took one wicket for 20 runs from four overs against Otago before chalking up 13 runs from 20 balls with the bat. Photo/Bevan Conley

The Central Districts girls built on a strong start to the national Under-15 cricket tournament at Victoria Park in Wanganui on Monday and remained the only unbeaten side after two matches.

On Monday, the CD top order started aggressively against Otago to finally rack up 173-6 from their 30 overs and, while the Otago girls tried hard, they could only muster 164-7 at the end of play.

Auckland replied to Wellington's 112-6 with 113-6 on Monday, while Canterbury (168-7) dispatched Northern Districts who were all out for 119.

Each team is required to play two games a day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but results of the later matches were unavailable by press time.

In fact, the covers went on before afternoon play began delaying the start.

Yesterday morning, CD held Northern Districts to a paltry 70 before making 73 without losing a wicket. Instrumental in CD's success to date is Rosemary Mair.

Mair scored 39 not out, while fellow opener Monique Rees chipped in with 25 not out.

Mair leads the tournament batting statistics with 90 on the board after two games and also the Most Valuable Player with 49.09 points.

Otago turned their fortunes around scoring 116-8 then bundling Auckland out for 106 with Georgia Heffernan taking two wickets for 17 runs off her six overs.

Heffernan also top scored with the bat, making 22 runs from just 30 balls, while Amber Cunningham chipped in with 16 off 15 balls before being bowled by Jesse Prasad.

Heffernan was leading the bowling statistics after two matches with six wickets. She also sits second on the MVP rankings with 39.88 points.

Wellington batters chalked up 119 runs before their 10th wicket fell after 22.5 overs.

In replay, the Canterbury girls could only muster 70 runs before Wellington succumbing to the bowlers from the capital.

The best was easily Kate Fenton, who took two wickets for two runs from her only over, although Brianna Perry aided the cause taking three for 16 off four overs.

Meanwhile, Manawatu girls lead the charge in the Secondary Schools Districts competition on the Collegiate grounds after two 40-over games.

Manawatu is unbeaten, while a combined Christchurch/Nelson XI have one win on the board.

The Hawke's Bay/Taranaki combined and Wanganui teams have yet to win a match.

Yesterday afternoon, the district girls played a T20 match but, unfortunately, results were unavailable at press time.

Rain did not interrupt play.