Ashburton College bowler Harry McMillan celebrates destroying the castle of a Christ’s College player on the weekend. Photo Doug BovettWill Graham’s first job as the captain of the Ashburton College 1st XI cricket side might not have gone well, but everything else the young, rising talent did on the weekend couldn’t have gone much better.

The 17-year-old led from the front for his side, producing a superhuman effort with both bat and ball in their outright victory against Christ’s College 2nd XI over two-days in Christchurch.

Graham scored 127 in the team’s second innings (the first century for the club since Kurt Polson’s in 2011) as well as five wickets in the first innings.

After losing his first task as captain, by losing the toss, Graham and his side were sent in to bat on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Ashburton College were soon in trouble at 57/6, with Graham back in the sheds, having top scored with 23, before a small recovery between debutants Tom Middleton and Brad Van Der Eik got the team though to 83 before being dismissed for 88.

New opening bowler, Harry McMillan then bowled superbly to claim the first three wickets and have Christ’s 15/4.

Graham then snared the first of his five wickets by dismissing his younger brother Thom, who is attending Christ’s College, before wrapping up the tail.

Gareth Hunt also took two wickets to see the home side dismissed for 81.

Ashburton College then set about building their lead late on Saturday and finished at 98/2, a lead of 91. Graham was 50 not out, while new opener Isaac Bazley overcame a nervous first innings to make 21.

Sunday saw Graham notch up his century, as wickets fell cheaply around him, before Middleton (18) and Jayden Fuller 20 not out provided some support getting the team to 232/9 declared, setting the home team 240 to win in 60 overs.

Incidentally, younger brother Thom did get his revenge by eventually dismissing Will for 127.

Ashburton College got off to a great start in the fourth innings when another debutante, James Forbes, picked up four quick wickets to have Christ’s struggling at 23/4.

The last six wickets proved a lot more difficult as the home team dug in for the draw, their resistance finally ended in the 49th over as they were bowled out for 110.

Forbes picked up another to give him five while McMillan, Hunt, Tom Ravenscroft, Fuller and of course, Will Graham, all snared one each.

It was a double honours board effort for Graham while Forbes will also have his name etched onto the board for his five-wicket effort.

It gets even tougher for Ashburton College when they take on Christchurch Boys High 3rds over the next two Saturdays.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 31 January 2017