A destructive display by Gus Casey-Solly and Seth McMillan has led Ashburton College’s combined XI to a comprehensive win in Christchurch at the weekend.

The visitors cruised to a seven wicket win over Christchurch Boy’s High School’s Youth XI in what was their third win of the season, off the back of a quick-fire unbeaten century stand from the duo.

The Mid Cantabrians are now atop the Cricket Express Youth 2nd Grade one-day competition.

It has not exactly been smooth sailing for AshColl’s 1st XI, who are winless in the Ara 1st XI championship after being put away by St Bede’s by seven wickets.

In the second grade meeting at Christchurch Boys’, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl and had the hosts struggling at 15/2.

The hosts battled their way out of dire straits with a half-century stand for the third wicket and a 44-run stint for the eighth as Boys’ High were bowled out for 180 in the 36nd over.

The visitors enjoyed a fruitful all-round performance with the ball. with Seth McMillan, Adam Shears and Nic Stringer all chipping in with two wickets apiece, and Casey-Solly in the thick of it behind the stumps with three dismissals.

AshColl had a calamitous beginning to their chase, losing two wickets in the first over.

Attack then became the best form of defence for Casey-Solly.

Coming in at four, the AshColl batsman took on the CBHS attack to get the visitors to 77/2 by the 10th over, before Johnny Stanway was trapped in front for a vigilant 9 off 30, a stark contrast to what was occurring at the other end of the pitch.

Unfortunately for the home team, Casey-Solly was joined by McMillan, who was also in a combative mood.

The next nine overs were utter carnage for the hosts, as the AshColl put on an unbroken stand of 104 to canter home.

Casey-Solly finished unbeaten, four runs short of what would have been a remarkable ton.

His 96 off 54 balls included 16 fours and three sixes, while McMillan hit eight fours in his unbeaten 46, which came off only 29 balls.

AshColl’s 1st XI however struggled to get anything going, after winning the toss and electing to bat at St Bede’s.

The visitors were rocked up top, to be reeling at 27/4 by the 11th over.

Lachie Jemmett and Sam Cuttle tried to give the innings some stability throughout the next 10 overs, but once Cuttle became one of opening bowler George Gunn’s three victims, it became a tough grind from then on out for AshColl’s lower order to generate any momentum.

A gutsy 33 from Jemmett was not enough to save AshColl from a sub-100 innings total, as they were wrapped up for 94 after 40 overs.

Opening bowling pair Gunn (3-21) and James McSweeny (3-17) caused all sorts of headaches for the AshColl order.

St Bede’s got off to a flyer in reply as opening batsman Matt Boyle made light work of AshColl’s bowling attack, hitting 43 from 33 before he nicked one to the keeper in the ninth over.

By that stage, the damage had been done, and despite a late flurry by Devon Flannery who picked up three wickets in total, St Bede’s were largely untroubled as they secured the win in 16 overs.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 November 2020