Canterbury Kiwis retain Boomerang Trophy

The Canterbury Kiwis have retained the Boomerang Trophy with a convincing 10-wicket win over the New South Wales Emus in their three-day 'Test' match.

Alex Hedges once again won the toss for the Kiwis and elected to bat. Good contributions were made right throughout the innings. Michael Jones made 15, Hedges 36, Josh Coll 32 and Chris Sowden 24. But it was opener James Biddick who made the most of conditions on the first day, being dismissed just before stumps for 87. At stumps on day one the Kiwis were 313/7.

Iain Robertson and Andrew Robertson resumed on day two looking to push on. Andrew Robertson was dismissed for 61 but Iain Robertson pushed on to complete his second successive century ending up 107 not out, another superb batting display. The Kiwis ended up 420 all out.

The Emus then went in to bat and put on 97 for the first wicket, but after this the wheels fell off thanks to some tight bowling by the Kiwis and they were dismissed for 217 an hour before the close of play. Bernhard Ballin took 4-29, Sowden 3-60 and Brandon Hiini 2-16.

Hedges then enforced the follow on and at stumps the Emus were teetering on the brink at 59/3. David Hay and Hiini had made the breakthrough.

The morning of the third day dawned cloudy and drizzly and the covers were left on until 10am. Play got underway in damp conditions, which made things difficult, but the Kiwi bowlers stuck to their task and ended up bowling the Emus out for 207, a lead of four. The best of the bowlers were David Hay 4-48 and Hedges 3-26, while Hiini and Sowden also picked up wickets.

Biddick and Shanon Dunnett then knocked off the runs, resulting in a 10-wicket win.