Cricket: Boys' High hit Aussies for 6

The Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys' High School 1st XI Cricket team have won all four of their games in Victoria and both games they have played so far in Adelaide. The first three games were played at the picturesque Hume and Hovell Grounds north of Melbourne - described as an "English village cricket ground in the Australian bush", where kangaroos graze close to the boundary.

One of their best bowling performances has been against Camberwell Grammar, who were bowled out for 103, with Matthew Lobb claiming 4-11. Kashmir Harypursat (33) and David Armitt put on 47 together before Alex Tunstall and Ben Smith knocked off the remaining runs.

When Boys' High batted first against Billanook College, Armitt (41) and Harypursat put on 75 together. Number three Sam Clotworthy then batted through most of the innings before being stumped for 92. Ben Smith scored a quick 45 but the other wickets fell steadily and the innings ended on 275 in the 45th over.

Left arm spinner Armitt took three wickets at the top of the Billanook innings, as they slumped to 67 for six. Fletcher Coutts then swept away the tail, taking four wickets in one over, the last two of them clean bowled to complete his hat-trick.

Boys' High batted first against their third opponents, Eltham College, with Harypursat (64) and Armitt putting on another half-century partnership. The innings was in the balance at 140 for seven wickets, but Alex Tunstall (22) and Nick Stobart (18 not out), saw their team through to a respectable 192 for nine wickets. Opening bowlers Stobart and Coutts struck quickly to reduce Eltham to 39 for five wickets. They never recovered and were all out for 76.

The tourists then moved into Melbourne, to play at the outstanding Carey Sports grounds. Batting first on a first-class pitch, Boys' High were in some trouble at 24 for three wickets before Harypursat and Lobb (40) put on 151 together. Harypursat scored a superb century, 120, which included two sixes and 15 fours. The total of 239 for six wickets looked under threat as Carey reached 75 without loss, but Smith and Armitt combined to remove seven batsmen. With Lobb and Alex Tunstall also bowling tidy spells, Carey fell 57 runs short.

The first game in Adelaide, against Pembroke School, was played at the beautiful Kensington Oval the home ground of Don Bradman for 13 years. Armitt (44) and Harypursat (24) got the innings off to a flier, but as wickets fell steadily, it took a tidy 29 from Max Davis to see the total through to 180. Lobb and Armitt bowled well in tandem to take the first five wickets. All the other bowlers kept the pressure on and took a wicket each as Pembroke were dismissed for 120.

Westminster School was yet another top venue for the next game, with Boys' High again batting first. The openers were removed relatively cheaply, but good partnerships between Smith (55) and Clotworthy (25), and then Smith and Lobb (25) regained the initiative. When Smith fell forcing the pace, Davis took over with an invaluable and quick 28 not out to give a respectable total of 185 for seven wickets. Opening bowlers Armitt and Stobart took two wickets each in demanding spells and with tidy performances from Coutts, Lobb and Tunstall, Westminster slumped to 90 for six wickets. However, some dropped catches as they hit out in desperation saw them needing 16 from Harypursat's last over.

A two and a six from the first two balls gave Westminster every chance, but needing three to win from the final ball they could manage only a single, which gave Boys' High the narrowest of victories and allowed them to preserve their unbeaten record.

The boys have two further games to play in Adelaide, against St Peter's and Pulteney Grammar.