Wellington College have claimed the Vettori Shield - a national cricket invitational for years 9 and 10.

The team finished top of their pool after convincing wins over Mount Albert Grammar School, Westlake Boys' High School and Otago Boys' High School and were the only team in the competition to score 200 runs in all matches when batting first.

Batting first in the final against Christ's College Oscar and Harry Lancaster combined for a 170-run partnership to help them make 218/4. They then bowled out the Cantabs for 113 in the 39th over to claim the tournament victory.

Oscar Jackson was the tournament's top runscorer having scored 96 in his side's final pool game before hitting a century in the final. He was desrvedly named the tournament's MVP.

Angus Miller also had a memorable tournament - the bowler took a hat-trick against Otago Boys' High School, bowling the first two batsman before trapping the third LBW. 

"The Wellington College team performed really well in some tough conditions where the variability between the various pitches meant different approaches were required to stay on top of the opposition," said coach Scott Miller.

"It was particularly pleasing that the boys played as a team with no egos and doing whatever job they were asked to do to get the job done.

"Big thank you to St Paul’s Collegiate School – Hamilton for putting on not only great weather and good challenging wickets, but accommodation and feeding (top notch meals) all the teams in the school hostels."

Article added: Monday 23 December 2019