Playing Hamilton Boys' High School in the final round top of the table Gillette Cup clash, the St Andrew's first XI carded a 174-run victory to claim the piece of silverware for the first time in its 29-year history. This year is also the first time St Andrew's had qualified for the six strong national tournament after winning their way through the Canterbury regional qualifiers which has been dominated by Christchurch Boys' High School in recent years.
"It's bigger than all of us in the team, knowing that a lot of old boys that have been texting in support is great. It's huge for the school," said St Andrew's captain Rhys Mariu.
The moment St Andrew's captured the win was extra special for St Andrew's coach Mike Johnston, who has been with the first XI for close to two decades.
"It's been an amazing journey this year with these boys. It's been 18 years I've been coaching St Andrew's, it's the first time we've been here and we've won it. We've just got a great team culture and they've worked for each other," said Johnston.
After being put into bat, St Andrew's opening pair of Mariu and Harrison Darling made a composed start before picking up the run rate and producing what turned out to be a match-winning opening stand of 142 before Mariu fell for 89.
The solid foundation allowed the team to reach 276/8 from their 50 overs.
"We were really surprised that Hamilton put us into bat and Rhys [Mariu] and Harrison [Darling] set the tone this morning with some great batting and we knew if we got more than 250 it was going to be too many for them to chase down," said Johnston.
St Andrew's went about defending their total by restricting Hamilton Boys' early in their chase which resulted in a required run rate of eight an over by the 20th over. The pressure eventually took its toll resulting in Hamilton Boys' being dismissed for 102 in the 35th over.
"We knew that is we set the right fields and bowled to them it was going to be really tough for them," said Mariu.
On Monday St Andrew's got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 15-run win over 2018 champions Wellington College. Batting first, opener Rhys Mariu scored 104 from 111 deliveries to help St Andrew's through to a total of 303/6 from their 50 overs. They then bowled out Wellington College for 288 in the 49th over. Will Anderson was the best of the bowlers, taking 3/58.
On Tuesday St Andrew's dominated Auckland's Rosmini College by 173 runs. Batting first, Zak Foulkes racked up a ton with 112 off 120 deliveries while helping his side reach 302/8. They then rolled Rosmini for 129 in the 31st over with Jordy Frew and Connor Hotton both taking three wickets.
Their only defeat of the week came on Wednesday at the hands of Lindisfarne College from Hastings. St Andrew's found themselves in a world of trouble at 99/9 batting first. However, tail enders Harry Waghorn and Jack Rule combined for a 42-run final wicket partnership to get them through to 141/9. The total still wasn't enough though, with Lindisfarne reaching the total with five wickets in hand in the 43rd over.
Playing at Hagley Oval on Wednesday against Otago Boys' High School, Jesse Frew became the third St Andrew's player to score a century at the tournament. Frew did it in style by hitting a four from the final delivery of the innings to reach 103 from just 78 deliveries.
Set 303 to win, Otago Boys' never looked like troubling St Andrew's impressive total and were bowled out in the 36th over for 135 to hand St Andrew's a 167-run win. Jordy Frew wasn't to be outdone by his older brother, taking 5/26.
