NZC National Men’s Under-17 Tournament
ROUND ONE
Canterbury Under-17 drew with Central Districts Under-17
Two-day match
Lincoln No.3
4-5 January 2020
Runs in the family? The opening-round line-ups between Canterbury and CD at this year's Under 17 Nationals featured a string of cricketers whose mothers or fathers had played first-class or international cricket, on both sides of the scorecard.
CD's Toby Findlay is the son of former Central Stag Craig Findlay. Young Canterbury run machine Matt Boyle is the latest in a dynasty of Canterbury's batting Boyles as a son of Justin, brother of Jack and nephew of David. Robbie Frew is the son of former WHITE FERN Lisa Astle, son of fellow former Canterbury rep Robbie Frew and nephew of Nathan Astle. Thomas Flavell's mother is Kirsty Bond, former WHITE FERN and national selector. Mitch McMillan's dad Craig needs little introduction either.
Canterbury captain Boyle won the toss and sent CD in but, despite an early wicket, CD eventually settled in thanks to a brisk, 113-run fifth-wicket partnership between Findlay and Baylee Foote.
CD's James Rawnsley
The pair had started their work together before lunch at 101 for four.
Findlay reached his half century off 61 balls, including three sixes and six boundaries, the second half ton of the CD innings after opener James Rawnsley's patient 52 across the first 35 overs.
Foote would go to top-score with 95 after Findlay was caught and bowled by Stan Ashwin on 69 at 214 for five, the duo having stabilised an innings that would kick on to 343 for nine at Curtis Heaphy's declaration.
Will Anderson and Ollie Curtis picked up three wickets each off their 16 overs, before Canterbury went to stumps at 50 for one in reply.
Boyle had been a big early wicket but his opening partner Kalhun Challau dug in for more than four and a half hours at the crease to underpin the Canterbury response, dominating a 121-run stand for the second wicket with Mackenzie Smith.
Challau's century arrived off 142 balls, including 18 boundaries and a six, Canterbury reaching 174 for three by lunch on the second day.
He was eventually caught on 139, but Canterbury wasn't done making CD run around in the field.
Flavell (33) and McMillan (86*) combined for a 43-stand, then McMillan carried on with Frew for a 46-run stand for the eighth wicket and dominated a 41-stand for the 10th to take Canterbury to a 34-run lead.
With 13 boundaries and two sixes, McMillan's knock had been bright and breezy before the last man fell at 377 in the last session.
Central's openers Rawnsley and Finn Raxworthy (42* off just 27) batted out the remainder of the day before the captains shook hands for the draw. The next round (one-dayers) begins on Tuesday.
