U17 quad tournament

The Nelson Under 17 group made good use of the long weekend by taking part in a pre-season 50 over Quadrangular tournament in Blenheim on Sunday and Monday.  Two games were played with mixed results but allowed the selectors to have a look at some of the boys in pressure situations.  These games were to be used as trials to select the team for the Central Districts tournament. Unfortunately the pitch conditions at Horton Park deteriorated as the weekend wore on.

On Sunday Nelson came back from the perilous position of three wickets down for just the solitary run to post a respectable 185/7 against Marlborough.  Logan Ogilvie, Mason Lund and Jonty Raxworthy steadied the ship with twenties and then Finn Raxworthy sealed the deal with a well compiled 62.  Cameron Collins was the pick of the home bowlers with a three wicket haul.

On the by now tired track this was always going to be a big ask.  Wickets tumbled steadily as Kaleb McKay and then Finn Raxworthy who completed a very good double, kept the acid on the home team. Marlborough eventually stumbled to be all out for 99.

Nelson Under 17                               185/7     Finn Raxworthy 62, Jonty Raxworthy 29, Logan Ogilvie 26,

Mason Lund 25, Cameron Collins 3/27

Marlborough Under 17                  99           Kaleb McKay 3/10, Finn Raxworthy 2/3

Nelson won by 86 runs

There was no escape from the poor start on Monday as Nelson were bundled out for just 57. The Canterbury Country bowling was both full of menace plus restrictive as Nelson were strangled throughout their short innings.

However the bowling and fielding unit hung tough and forced the Canterbury Country batsmen to fight tooth and nail to chase down every last run.  The total was always going to be very difficult to defend but the young Nelson team made Country work to the very end.  The gangly McKay was once again the pick of the bowlers and Jackson Harris also chimed in with a brace.

Nelson Under 17                               57           S. Simpson 3/8

Canterbury Country U17               58/6       Kaleb McKay 2/7, Jackson Harris 2/24

Canterbury Country won by 4 wickets

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND – Nelson Griffins v Onslow. Saxton Oval, Richmond, New Zealand. Sunday 14 October 2018. (Photo by Chris Symes/Shuttersport Limited)