Queenstown Cricket Club may have won the Korford Senior Cup but Dunstan High School First XI has been the headline act all season as they dominated the reserve grade competitions. 

Both finals in the Otago Country Cricket senior competitions were played over the weekend, with two nail-biting and low-scoring finals matches.

Queenstown took out the Korford Cup senior final in a low scoring fizzer at the Queenstown Events Centre.

Batting first Albion Luggate lost a wicket first ball of the innings and limped through to only 76/10 off 25 overs with no player scoring over 20. 

For Queenstown, the wickets were shared between Ritender Singh 3 for 17, Swaran Sandhu 2 for 6 and Sukhdev Singh 2 for 12. 

In reply, Queenstown knocked the runs off in only 9 overs with Jason McGirr 26 not out, Amrit Gossal 32, and Sukhdev Singh 19 not out, doing it easily. 

You can view the scorecard, here.

However, the highlights were found in the reserve grade, as Dunstan High School First XI grabbed the Senior Reserve grand final, in what is a remarkable turnaround on previous seasons. 

The youngsters, who play in a division of mostly adult men, humbled their opposition with stirring performances throughout the season. 

They carried that form over into the final, where they defended a low score to take the trophy to Alexandra.  

Dunstan were bowled out for just 92 off 33.3 overs, with only Maz Cameron 28 and Ryley Park 10 getting to double figures. 

The Queenstown Reserves delivered a top fielding and bowling performance to restrict the students. 

The main wicket takers were Rinku Multani, 3 for 26, and Gaurau, 3 for 12.  

But the schoolboys have been outstanding with the ball all season, and led by pace bowler Theo Jarvis (4 for 14 off 8 overs) they knocked over Queenstown Reserves for 42 in 20 overs (Ajit Pilo 13).

Samuel Waitoa (3 for 6 off 2 overs) and Christopher Nevill (3 for 14 off 7) also played key roles in securing the victory in a game played in good spirit.

You can view the scorecard here.

Dunstan First XI also made it a hat-trick and clean sweep of the competitions, having taken out the Barrie Cup (T20) and the Partridge Cup in the Senior Reserve grade. 

Dunstan High School First XI lost just two matches across three men’s competitions to bring home the three trophies. 

Dunstan High School Coach Roger Hill says the team had an outstanding season losing only two matches and taking out the three competitions. 

“It is a fantastic result for these young 16 and 17-year-olds who play in the senior reserve competition in the Vincent area and it’s a men’s competition so mentally it’s tough on young guys. 

“The side is well-balanced from the opening bowlers of Theo Jarvis and Mike Lord, who have been exceptional at the start and end of the fielding innings.”

Roger says all-rounders Chris Nevill, Samuel Waitoa, Maz Cameron and Ben Johnson have added to the power of the bowling attack. 

The batting line-up, with Captain Jamie Hill at the top of the order, was followed by the pre-mentioned all-rounders as well as young year 10 star, Mika Tait. 

That depth allowed the team to take on the best of the competition’s bowling attacks. 

“Keeper Paidrag Reilly was epic in the 40-over final and pinch hitters Jake Denniston and Cyress Hutchinson have the ability to take the game away from the best of teams,” Roger says. 

“The tail of the batting order always wagged with Reilly Park and Charlie Shaw who both are also handy with the ball.

“Coaches Phill Lord and Roger Hill have seen the team really grow this season and for you men in the game of cricket the future is bright.”

Otago Country Cricket District Manager Adrian Morgan is glowing in his praise of the highschool players. 

“They are an awesome bunch of kids who have a great team spirit – many of them have played together since primary school and play other sports such as rugby together,” Adrian says. 

“Dunstan High School cricket has come a long way. 

“Five years or so ago playing for the First XI was nothing to be proud of. 

“Guys were turning up in shorts and fielding in bare feet. The team was running themselves with very limited parental or school input or support from what I could see. 

“But recently great people like Janine Nevill, Roger Hill and Phil Lord have got involved and they have transformed the side. They all wear a great looking kit, are well coached by Roger and Phil and they have plenty of support from parents. 

“I think the boys are proud to be playing for the High School and they put the effort in to practice and their games.”

Adrian says the change has been driven by a “really good bunch of people getting involved and putting time and effort into making cricket at Dunstan High School a great experience”. 

“Also credit to the boys who have really improved this season and learned how to win the tight games. 

“Players like Theo Jarvis, Maz Cameron, Chris Nevill, Samuel Waitoa, Ben Johnson and Michael Lord have really stepped their game up a notch this year.

“This team has the talent to play well in the Senior grade.” 

Photos contributed.

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