Ashburton College’s Liam Sullivan took 1/24 against Christ’s College on Saturday. Photo Heather MackenzieThe going was pretty tough again for Ashburton College’s first XI cricket side on Saturday, as they hosted one of Christchurch’s top school sides.

Christ’s College’s first XI made the trip to the Ashburton Domain and went home with a 67-run win to their names, ensuring Ashburton College’s winless start to Canterbury’s top youth first XI grade competition this season continued.

The visitors batted first and opening batsman Nick Lidstone got them off to an ideal start, top-scoring with 44.

Ashburton boy Tom Graham then chimed in with 24 as the Christchurch side’s next best batsman, helping them through to 158 all out off 38.3 overs against his former school.

For the Ashburton College bowlers Angus Jemmett took 4/39 off his 10 overs, while Tom Middleton took 2/25 off 7.3 overs and Ben Middleton 2/21 off five overs.

Ashburton College then got off to one of their better starts in reply, producing a couple of good partnerships and getting through to 69 before they lost their third wicket, and from there things went a bit pear shaped.

They lost three wickets while the score was on 69 – two of them nabbed by Graham – and went on to be all out for 91, continuing their run of totals just shy of the 100-run mark.

Isaac Bazley’s 29 was the best on the scoresheet for Ashburton College, while Jemmett was the only other batsman to reach double figures, with 12.

For Christ’s College, Graham did the bulk of the damage against his old school, taking 4/27, while Tom McClean took 3/20.

Next up, Ashburton College will hit the road for another tough challenge, with the St Andrew’s College 1st XI their next opposition in Christchurch this Saturday.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 12 November 2019