Cricket: KIS win again in NZ knockout comp

Kamo Intermediate School principal Paul Shepherd travelled with the team and said the victory was a true team effort. Photo / Thinkstock

Kamo Intermediate School have remained unbeaten in a national Twenty20 knockout cricket competition and could yet compete for a national title.

The side this week qualified for the final of the Northern Districts round of the New Zealand Cup Twenty20 competition.

On Wednesday, KIS beat Bombay School at Bruce Pulman Park in Papakura with the team's win again built around batting first, and pressuring the opposition with solid fielding and bowling.

Kamo scored 138 with left-handed opener Sam Webb carrying his bat through the innings for 63 no, with Cale Pooley batting sensibly for 29.

Bombay's run chase began well, but committed Kamo bowling and a strong fielding game choked the Bombay innings, which fell 54 runs short.

Kamo Intermediate School principal Paul Shepherd travelled with the team and said the victory was a true team effort.

"I think it's a fantastic effort that encompasses the culture of KIS, the way they played together."

Travelling away was a challenge, but was made easier by the side's enthusiasm, and a small team of supporters who travelled to Auckland for the game, and who outnumbered the Bombay supporters. The team also demonstrated commitment by being the first to the match venue.

Coach Sam Walker said the nature of Twenty20 meant that, on any given day, any one of two teams of similar ability could win.

The KIS team had the right batting/bowling/fielding mix to potentially win the national final, he believed.

Eleven of the school team play or have played representative cricket together, and have played club cricket with or against each other for the past four years, giving the school side a unique bond.

"If I was going into a final and wanted a team to fight for me, it would be this side," Mr Walker said.