The Canterbury Under-19 team had a good workout at the weekend with a match against the Canterbury Country Emerging Players team at the Christ's College ground on Sunday.

Batting first, Canterbury were in some initial bother at 78 for four but a fifth wicket partnership of 78 between Andrew Robertson and Michael Jones saw the local side back on track. Robertson finished on 44 with Jones making 29.

William Catherwood joined Iain Robertson later at the crease and together the pair added a further 104 in an unbroken eighth wicket stand which saw Canterbury finish its innings at 253 for the loss of seven wickets. The running between the wickets was a feature of this partnership with Roberston hitting an unbeaten 62 and Catherwood providing useful support with 29.

For Canterbury Country David Hay bowled well despite failing to snare any wickets. Hay is a non-travelling reserve for the Canterbury team.

Canterbury Country started soundly and put Canterbury under real pressure and at 229/4 were looking in control of the match. However Peter Borren with 4-37, including a second spell where he picked up three wickets in the space of seven balls for the addition of only one run, and Paddy Reardon, who provided good support and picked up 3-44, cleaned up the remaining wickets.

The last six Country wickets fell for the addition of only 11 runs with the Canterbury fieldsmen executing two crisp run outs to add insult to injury.

Canterbury head south to Oamaru today to play Otago in a three-day fixture prior to the National Under-19 Tournament proper which commences in Auckland on 27 December.

© Canterbury Cricket Association