The Ashburton College First XI are currently in Australia and spent Monday taking part in a coaching session with renowned coach Alan Gale. Photo supplied.The Ashburton College First XI claimed their first success on Sunday in their week-long tour in Australia.

Playing against a Caloundra Cricket Club Invitational XI at the Caloundra Club on Sunday, the Ashburton lads had to hold off their excitement early in the day with the weather resulting in a delayed start and a match reduced to just the 35 overs.

With the willow in hand for the opening innings, the College boys put together an impressive 203-4 off their 35 overs including strong contributions from Isaac Bazley (88) and Devon Flannery (76).

In reply, the host side could only muster 106 runs before they were all dismissed with Ben Middleton playing the role of chief destroyer with the impressive figures of 4-25.

On Monday, the team turned its focus to improving their skillset thanks to a coaching session with the head coach of the Matthew Flinders Cricket Club, Alan Gale – who put them through their paces in an excellent training session.

Play was supposed to happen on Tuesday in the form of a T20 match against Sunshine Coast Grammar School and while some play was achieved, the weather again intervened.

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat and were 69 without loss after 10 of the 20 overs when thunderstorms settled in for the afternoon and saw the match abandoned.

Yesterday the club were set to play a day/night T20 match under lights against the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association before rounding out their visit with a 50 over match against the Matthew Flinders Anglican School First XI.

The side were initially set to take part in their first Canterbury secondary schools’ Cricket Express First XI Cup match this Saturday against Christchurch Boys’ High School Colts but the match has been deferred with the side only returning to New Zealand on Friday.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 October 2018