Whanganui U13 players (from left) Joel Clark, JJ Doble and Tomasi Connor earned the treat of a lifetime after beating Taranaki in Stratford on Sunday morning.
The trio met with world class batting sensation Mahela Jayawardene (cap) later in the day up the road in New Plymouth. The boys andtheir team played early on Sunday to allow the afternoon trip to Pukekura Park to watch Jayawardene in action for the Central Stags against the Northern Knights - and the former Sri Lankan ace batsman did not disappoint.
Three days after making 76 from 52 balls against the Knights in Hamilton, the 38-year-old whacked 97 off 59 balls, striking 17 fours and two sixes and claiming a spot in the Super Smash playoffs for the Stags.
The encounter with Jayawardene was truly inspirational for the boys and the fellow Whanganui rep players who have all been working hard on technique over the past few seasons. Clark, along with Huntley School first X1 team-mates Adam Lennox and Harry Godfrey were chosen for the paper Dream Team at the end of the NZ Post Cup tournament in Christchurch last week.
