A desire to bat for time inspired Hawke's Bay cricketer Jacob Murdoch to score 153 not out yesterday.
"We were in trouble early so I thought I would have to bat through the whole 50 overs so we would get a decent total," opening batsman Murdoch said as he reflected on his contribution to his Cornwall team's 280 run victory against Rotorua on the No 1 pitch at Cornwall Park.
After having the bye the previous day it was Cornwall's first match in the Year 9 and 10 division of the annual Riverbend Camp tournament which has 13 teams in action and continues until Thursday. Cornwall scored 323 off 50 overs before getting Rotorua out for 43 after 22 overs.
A year 10 student at Hastings Boys' High School who has been playing cricket for eight years, Murdoch, 15, faced 130 deliveries and his tally included 25 fours.
"I didn't get any sixes. We will have smaller boundaries at Frimley Park tomorrow so hopefully I can hit some sixes there," Murdoch said as he pondered his team's match against Counties-Manukau's Piako Knights in Hastings today.