The Junior 1st XI Cricket team ventured up to Oamaru to face an inexperienced Waitaki Boys' High School side in a 40 over match on Monday.

Captain Levi Simpson managed to win the toss and elected to bat in very warm and breezy conditions.

We talked before the game about being patient, getting set, and making the most of ideal batting conditions, however, this didn't go exactly to plan.

After a positive start with most batsmen getting into double figures, we started losing wickets at regular intervals with loose shots and trying to hit the big shots off the wrong ball.

At 7 wickets down with 130 runs on the board after 16 overs, James Reay joined Levi at the crease.

These two steadied the ship and put on 95 runs off 15 overs for the 8th wicket with James scoring 33.

Gabe Scott (21*) joined Levi with 9 overs left. They managed to score 81 runs for the 9th wicket to bring our total to 306 off 40 overs.

Levi finished 110* off 91 balls—his first century. He was enthusiastically cheered off the field by his teammates and Mr McIvor, who was lucky enough to be present for this fantastic achievement.

By the time King's went out into the field to bowl, the weather conditions had changed to be more comfortable.

Opening bowlers Charlie Macdonald (2 wickets) and Jack Proctor (3 wickets) set the standard early, bowling aggressively and accurately while picking up early wickets.

Wickets continued to fall with all the bowlers bowling reasonably tight lines. The bowlers were unlucky at times, constantly beating the batsmen and just missing the stumps.

Izaak Kinney bowled exceptionally well with 8 unbroken overs with 5 maidens, picking up 2 wickets for 10 runs. 

Evan Lowrey also picked up 4 catches in the field.

Waitaki were bowled out within 25 overs for 67—a win to King's by 239 runs.

While the opposition weren't the strongest, King's can still be proud of their efforts, especially in the field.

Also, scoring a hundred at any level is a magnificent achievement, particularly when your side is in trouble. Congratulations to Levi Simpson.

The team are looking forward to a tough match against a strong Southland Boys' High School Junior 1st XI team in a couple of weeks time.

A big thank you goes out to Mr Conrad for having to endure the long drive to Oamaru and back with twelve teenage boys in the back talking themselves up the entire time!