Wednesday 21 October 2026
A team of 13 junior cricketers toured Hawkes Bay's 'sunny' climes during the holidays in what turned out to be a successful trip. We were entered in a Year 10 tournament despite our team having mainly Year 9 students and only having four Year 10 players. The tournament was organised by the Hawkes Bay Cricket Association and featured teams from around the North Island.
In the first game against Hutt International Boys School (HIBS) from Wellington both teams braved drizzly weather with King's winning the toss and scoring 229/9 with Athan Sabir (Year 10, Peart) (53 retired), Dilshan Kandola (Year 9, Major) (33*), Harry Davidson (Year 9, Parnell) (32) and Braxton Fletcher (Year 9, Greenbank) (30) all making good contributions. HIBS reached the score in the penultimate over with Dilshan Kandola the best bowler with 7-2-23-2.
One of the highlights of the trip was meeting two current first class players - Angus Schaw and Sam Cassidy - for a Q&A session over a hot chocolate at 13th Stag - a cafe owned by current Black Cap Blair Tickner. The boys were able to quiz these top cricketers on their mental and physical approach to the game which was an incredible opportunity.
The next day was foreshortened by rain in our game against Wellington College. However, we played a T30 game with King's scoring an impressive 285/7. Top scorers were Willoughby Wheldale (Year 9, Peart) (66 retired), Tanvir Dhanoa (Year 10, Averill) 45, Kane Bamford (Year 9, Major) 31 and Athan Sabir 24. Harry Davidson was the best of the bowlers with 4-1-12-2. Dilshan Kandola took a screamer of a catch and two impressive run outs were effected by Willoughby Wheldale and Tom Jamieson (Year 10, Parnell).
The last day we awoke to more marginal weather for our game against St John's College, Hamilton. The decision was taken to play the fixture in Taupō where we managed a forty over contest. Once again King's set an opposing goal with 285 all out in the 39th over, Tanvir Dhanoa scored a belligerent 119 off of 76 balls with 10 fours and 8 huge sixes.
He was ably supported by Willoughby Wheldale (76) and Ashton Sherrock (Year 9, Major) with 23. We restricted the opposition to 203 for 9 with Tom Jamieson (3-1-6-2) and Rory Kingham (Year 9, Parnell) (5-0-31-1) taking important wickets.
Matt Kidd - Cricket Tour Manager