28/10/2026
🏆 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚄15 𝙱𝚘𝚢𝚜 𝚟 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚔𝚊𝚞 𝚄15 🏆
Northland's U15 Boys opened their pre-tournament preparations with a closely contested seven-run victory over Counties Manukau in a T20 match.
Batting first, Northland posted 130/3 from their 20 overs, largely thanks to an outstanding unbeaten innings from 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀, who struck 88 from 71 deliveries, including eight fours and two sixes. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 contributed 16 as Northland established a competitive total.
Counties responded with a determined run chase, but the Northland bowlers worked hard to restrict scoring, with 𝗝𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 particularly economical, conceding just 11 runs from his three overs. 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 claimed the only bowler's wicket, while three run-outs by 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹, 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 respectively also contributed to the Northland effort.
𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟯𝟬/𝟯 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘂 𝟭𝟮𝟯/𝟯 𝗯𝘆 𝟳 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀.
NORTHLAND U15 BOYS – GAME 2
A thrilling finish to the second T20 between Northland and Counties Manukau, with Northland producing an outstanding team effort to defend just 98 runs and secure a dramatic three-run victory off the final ball!
Batting first, Northland found runs difficult to come by against a disciplined Counties bowling attack. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 anchored the innings with a patient 40 from 48 balls, including five boundaries, while 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀 contributed 10 and Northland finished on 98/9.
With a modest total to defend against an older Counties side, Northland needed a committed performance in the field — and the boys certainly delivered.
The bowling effort was led by 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱, who claimed 2/17 from four overs, while 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀(1/8 from two overs), and 𝗡𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 1/9 were the other wicket takers. Northland’s two young leg spinners 𝗔𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗮𝗹 also bowled economically through the middle overs.
The match came down to the final over, with Counties needing seven runs to win. 𝗡𝗶𝘅𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 was entrusted with the ball, and with the pressure on, the game went right down to the final delivery. Nixon claimed a runout off the last ball to seal a remarkable three-run victory for Northland!
𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟵𝟴/𝟵 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗸𝗮𝘂 𝟵𝟱/𝟱 𝗯𝘆 𝟯 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀
For a young Northland team playing against older and more experienced opposition, the determination, discipline and commitment shown to defend such a small total was particularly pleasing. Every player contributed to a genuine team performance, with the boys maintaining their intensity and belief right to the final ball.
An excellent contest between two competitive sides, and a memorable finish for the Northland boys! Two games, two wins — and plenty of valuable experience ahead of the tournament.
𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙙 - 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝
