Captain's century helps Old Boys’ Collegians win second title this season

A superb knock under pressure from Old Boys’ Collegians captain Jack Lewis helped his side to a second club title this season.

OBC were able to beat Burnside West in the one-day competition final by four-wickets after a shaky start to their chase at Burnside Park on Sunday.

With OBC at 7/3, chasing Burnside West’s 219, the home side looked likely to continue their unbeaten streak in the one-day format until Lewis, 25, came to the crease.

Lewis said his sole focus was to build a partnership with Australian batter Dylan Hunter. “I just wanted to spend some time at the crease with Dylan. I wasn’t thinking too much about scoring runs,” Lewis said.

Hunter was then caught on 40, leaving OBC four down with 155 to win.

Although OBC were missing key players who were with the Canterbury A side, Lewis was able to build a 93-run partnership with Thomas Graham in the middle overs of the chase.

Burnside West took two more wickets, but couldn’t stop Lewis bringing up his first premiership century then hitting the winning runs.

“I was just focused on getting the team over the line, I couldn’t be happier,” Lewis said.

OBC opener David Wakefield and Lewis were the only remaining players from the 2016/17 team that last won the one-day competition. It was also Lewis’ first season with the premier side.

But it was his second final of the season as captain of the premier side, after OBC won the T20 final against Sydenham in December.

“It’s pretty awesome. It’s something I’ll always cherish, looking back on this season,” Lewis said.

With only two-day matches left this season, Lewis said his priority will be giving the club’s newest premier players experience at the highest level of club cricket.

“The focus is getting the younger boys from Christ’s College and [Christchurch Boys’ High] out, and giving them a good run,” he said.

With Elmwood Park set to get a full field reconstruction on Monday, OBC will have no home games after the weekend.

Lewis said the premier side will be training at Christchurch Boys’ High ahead of the remaining two away matches of the season.

Premiership final scorecard:

• Burnside West 218/7 (50 overs), Carl Huyser 70, Dylan Hunter 2/32, Harrison Cox 2/44, lost to Old Boys’ Collegians 220/6 (45.1 overs), Jack Lewis 109 not out, Will O’Brien 3/24, Curtis Millard 1/27.