From the 21st to 23rd January St Pauls competed in the Student Horizons T20 competition in Auckland against most of the big Auckland cricketing schools. Unfortunately day 1 was rained out and the last 2 days were switched to artificial.
Playing St Kentigern in game 1 St Pauls had a poor match in the field but still managed to restrict St Kents to 128 for 7. Best of the bowlers were Bede Higgens 2 for 23 from 3 and Tom Yarrall 2 for 25 from 4. In reply St Pauls got off to a steady start but it was Aditya Sakalkale 26, Reuben Andrews 18 and Simon Morbey 25 not out from 13 that provided the hitting power to win the game by 4 wickets and 2 overs to spare.
In the afternoon St Pauls got off to a bad start in the field conceding 185 for 7 to Kelston including 36 extras. However through Tom Yarrall with 56 including 3 consecutive sixes, Aditya Sakalkale 23 and Reuben Andrews 26 got St Pauls close. Bede Higgens 13 not out and Devon Nolan 17 not out from 6 balls finished the game with 2 sixes with 7 balls to spare.
In the semis St Pauls faced Auckland Grammar. The innings was built around Dillon Kelliher who smashed 85 from 61 balls. He was supported by Kippa Fawcett 32 as the team made 155 for 4. St Pauls had to bowl, field and catch much better which they duly did in bowling Grammar out for 140. Tom Harsant bowled very well to take 3 for 21 from 4, while Chris Swanson 3 for 16 from 3 and Simon Morbey 2 for 24 from 4 bowled beautifully into the wind.
In the final St Pauls again lost the toss and were asked to field by Westlake. They responded brilliantly and bowled Westlake out for 113. Tom Harsant set the tone with a brilliant run out, among 3 the team made for the innings. Simon Morbey 2 for 26 from 4 and Chris Swanson 2 for 14 from 3.2 bowled beautifully into the wind, while Tom Harsant took 2 for 7 from 3. In reply Dillon Kelliher 29 and Reuben Andrews 35 played powerfully to be cruising at 72 for 2 before both ran themselves out to give Westlake a sniff. However captain Swanson played calmly for 29 not out from 25 to see St Pauls home for the title with 4 overs to spare.
Keeper Reed Fisher did a fine job behind the stumps keeping in 3 of the 4 matches with 3 catches, a stumping and several runouts.
To beat 4 top Auckland schools in 2 days to win the title was an amazing effort and was also crowned with Tom Harsant receiving the bowlers award for the tournament.
