Auckland is the winner of the 2008/09 National Under-19 cricket tournament after beating Canterbury by five wickets.
Auckland won the toss in today's final on the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln and put Canterbury in to bat. After losing Tom Latham early, Bill Walsh and Des Kruger got Canterbury back on track with 41 for the second wicket. The fifth wicket partnership between Liam Bartholomeusz and Logan Van Beek then gave the innings real impetus with Van Beek hitting an aggressive 64 off 73 balls including two fours and two sixes – as well as some excellent running between the wickets. After Van Beek was dismissed the innings folded quickly and Canterbury was all out in 45.3 overs for 209.
In reply Michael Barry was out early in Auckland’s innings, but Kirk Bunting and Jimmy Neesham put on 103 for the second wicket. Bunting made 62 off 89 balls and Neesham an attacking 69 off 48 balls including 11 fours and a six. Tony Manning was not out on 34 when Auckland reached the target in 45.4 overs. Matt Farrant and Logan Van Beek both took two wickets each but in the end it was a well-paced victory for Auckland.
Canterbury 209 (Liam Bartholomeusz 38, Logan Van Beek 64, Jimmy Neesham 3/39) lost to Auckland 211/5 (Kirk Bunting 62, Jimmy Neesham 69, Tony Manning 34*) by 5 wickets
The play off for third and fourth between Wellington and Otago, on Lincoln No. 3, was the closest match of the day. Batting first, Otago put on 23 for the first wicket but was unable to put together any sizeable partnerships until Nick Beard and Jesse Simpson put on 69 for the fifth wicket. Simpson top scored with 70 off 92 balls and Beard chipped in with 32, helping Otago to 231. For Wellington Thomas Pere took 4/44 off his 10 overs.
Chasing 232, Wellington lost an early wicket before Michael Pollard with 48 and Vinnie Ward with 22 put on 47 for the second wicket. They lost wickets regularly until Harry Wright and Chamika Gajanayaki combined to add 81 for the sixth wicket, Gajanayaki scoring 64 off 91 balls. Wellington fell short, finishing all out for 224 in 48.4 overs to give Otago a win by 7 runs.
Otago 231/9 (Jesse Simpson 70, Thomas Pere 4/44) beat Wellington 224 (Michael Pollard 48, Chamika Gajanayaki 64, James Fuller 3/61, Nick Beard 3/11) by 7 runs
Central Districts and Northern Districts played for fifth and sixth places, Central winning the toss on Lincoln Green and choosing to bat. They were in trouble at 2/4 but Andy Dodd continued his fine tournament form with 68 off 104 balls, putting on 122 for the third wicket with Ben Smith who made 64 off 108 balls. Bronson Meehan and Ethan Bolstad chipped in with 33 and 26 runs respectively and at the end of 50 overs CD had made 229/6.
Northern seemed to have saved their best batting until the last game and a series of solid partnerships took them to victory in 49 overs with five wickets in hand. Ashwyn Kilgour top scored with 52 not out from 64 balls and he put on an unbeaten 47 with Anurag Verwag for the sixth wicket, seeing the side home. Vermag finished on 26 not out off 26 balls.
Central Districts 229/6 (Ben Smith 64, Andy Dodd 68, Anurag Verma 3/48) lost to Northern Districts 230/5 (Fraser Kilgour 52, Ashywn Herwels 51*, B.J Barnett 3/32) by 5 wickets
Final Placings
| Auckland | 1st |
| Canterbury | 2nd |
| Otago | 3rd |
| Wellington | 4th |
| Northern Districts | 5th |
| Central Districts | 6th |
