'Llewy' smashes record innings

They call him ''Llewy'' but someone is going to have to come up with a more imaginative nickname for Duntroon's Llewellyn Johnson.

The 12-year-old blasted his way into the record books yesterday when he smashed 159 for North Otago at the South Island primary schools cricket tournament in Christchurch.

Playing Marlborough, Llewellyn made his runs off 134 balls, belting 18 fours and five sixes as North Otago made 259 for nine. He shared in a partnership of 116 for the third wicket with Rhys Petrie.

It is the highest score made at the annual tournament, which is in its 50th year.

The name shunted from the record books? A bloke called Craig McMillan, who scored 152 not out against Central Otago in Gore in 1990, seven years before he played the first of his 55 tests for New Zealand.

The tournament records for appearance (five, Chris Cairns), centuries (three in five games, Craig Cumming) and wickets (37 in five games, Jeff Wilson) are all held by players who became Black Caps.

On hand yesterday was Llewellyn's excited mother, Lee-anne McLauchlan, who said her son ''liked to have a hit''.

Llewellyn, who moves from Duntroon School to Waitaki Boys' High School this year, has been in hot form, scoring back-to-back centuries earlier this summer.

North Otago primary coach Stephan Grobler said the young right-hander was a positive batsman.

''Today was brilliant. He left the ball well, got himself in and then cashed in. He picked the bad ball and put it away.''

Grobler said he had promised the youngster a bat if he scored a century at the tournament, which finishes today.

Only two other players - Stephen Phillips (1966) and Gerard Ward (1987) - have scored a century for North Otago at the tournament.

Another rising star had a good day yesterday. Ness Scully, playing for the Dunedin primary team, took nine wickets (five for three, and four for nine) in a game against Buller.