NZC National Men’s Under 19 Tournament
ROUND FOUR | 8 December 2019
Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Auckland U19 beat Otago U19 by 137 runs
Another day, another big win for Auckland - with another bonus point pushing them two points clear ahead of fellow unbeaten side CD at the head of the standings.
The result sets up a fascinating showdown between the two sides on Monday in a winner-takes-all final round for this year's one-day bragging rights.
Against Otago, Auckland dominated from start to finish, despite having been sent in at "The Bert".
Opening batsman Bevon Jacobs led the way with a run-a-ball century, his 127 featuring 15 fours and two sixes as he batted into the 40th over.
Jacobs shared a big 170-stand for the second wicket with Conor Ansell (66), the pair setting their teammates on course for a hefty total of 318 for six.
It was a tough act to follow for Otago, despite the best efforts of captain Beckham Wheeler-Greenall, the number four in the middle from the fourth over with his side in early trouble at 13/2 with Auckland's opening attack of Muhammed Abbas and Will O'Rourke making the quick strikes.
Wheeler-Greenall and Harrison Biggs were making good progress on a recovery when disaster struck Otago in the 15th over, leggie Adithya Ashok picking up his brace of wickets in the space of four balls.
The loss of Biggs ended a 61-stand with his skipper and despite Wheeler-Greenhall batting on to reach 73, and a last ditch unbeaten 44* off just 33 balls from Louis Holt, Otago struggled to build another partnership as Auckland closed in.
Abbas finished with 3-30 for the clinical defending champions, Otago all out for 181 in just the 33rd over.