Tunnel Wash Burnside West Christchurch University will play in the OEM Audio final against Sydenham after defeating Old Boys Collegians by 83 runs in their semi-final. Posting an imposing 333 for six before dismissing Old Boys for 250 in 46.3 overs.
After being sent in, Burnside built their innings around a composed 73 from 103 balls by Nick Gibb. After an early wicket, Canterbury rep Scott Janett in the first over. Gibb steadied the innings through the middle overs. He reached his half-century from 68 balls and shared key partnerships, including 50-run stands with Henry Christie (30) and Callum Hill (33).
At 178 for four in the 37th over, Burnside were well placed but still required acceleration. That came emphatically through Bradford’s Ben Wright and local junior, Tom Turner.
Wright struck 62 from just 26 deliveries, hitting six fours and five sixes. He brought up his half-century in 19 balls and helped add 50 runs for the fifth wicket in just 24 deliveries. Central Districts first-class bowler Oscar Mabin bore the brunt, finishing with figures of 0 for 112 from his 10 overs.
Turner ensured the momentum continued, finishing unbeaten on 56 from 29 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes). He and David Zohrab (18 not out) added 50 from 30 balls late in the innings as Burnside passed 300 in the 48th over.
Old Boys’ chase never fully gathered pace. Kavya Shukla top-scored with 43 from 86 balls, while Ben Stephen made 32 off 48 and Josh Tromp added a brisk 33 from 22. Tromp’s dismissal proved significant, run out by Matt Hay in a sharp piece of fielding off his own bowling.
From 139 for three, Old Boys slipped to 200 for nine. Matt Lewis claimed 3 for 54, while Hay (2 for 49) and Jackson Latham (2 for 26 from 8.3 overs) provided key breakthroughs through the middle and late overs.
A late 36 from Jack Mockford and 16 not out from Namit Gupta provided some respect to the margin but the result was never seriously in doubt.
Burnside’s total proved too much for the Elmwood outfit, built on Gibb’s resilience, complemented by Wright and Turner’s late hitting and suffocated by relentless pressure from the bowling attack. Ultimately, securing their spot in the competition final, where they will look to go one better than last year.
Callum Hill