Hansen ton drives college

Cricket

Central Districts age group representative Melissa Hansen scored an unbeaten century when the Wairarapa College first XI girls cricket team scored a big win over their St Matthew's Collegiate counterparts.

Wairarapa College batted first in a 20-over match played as part of the Wairarapa junior boys fifth grade competition with Hansen, 16, opening the innings and peppering the boundary on her way to a scintillating 105 not out.

Sam Curtis first became involved in his coaching role with Wairarapa College in 1999 and believes Hansen is the first century-maker for the school since Kathryn Wyatt managed the feat a season or two earlier.

Curtis was not surprised, however, with Hansen's achievement. saying the Central Hinds under-21 player, who also plays senior club cricket in Wellington for Johnsonville, long had the potential to produce knocks of that magnitude.

"She's got all the shots and she's never afraid to play them," Curtis said. "She's particularly strong on the pull and that brings her a lot of runs at club level here because bowlers tend to drop the ball short."

And it's not only against the girls that Hansen has prospered, in the team's previous match against St Matthew's she had made 89 not out against Rathkeale Red.

Hansen's century and a 39 from Billie Rawhiti saw Wairarapa College reach 189 with the pick of the St Matthew's bowlers being Hinerau Te Tau-Mita who took 1-26.

St Matthew's then made 87 in reply with Paige Blundell top scoring with 16 retired.

Bowling for Wairarapa College, Erin Copps took 3-16, Rachel Copps 1-11 and Georgia Atkinson 1-18.