Poverty Bay Cricket Association have successfully launched their innovative Junior Colts T15 League in Gisborne.

The competition is for Year 7-10 cricketers and is an imitation of the more senior Walker Shield T15 Blast. The competition is comprised of the same four teams as the Walker Shield franchises, with Poverty Bay Cricket Association drafting the teams from a pool of registered players before the season started.

With a range of different rules such as two runs for wides and the required use of four different bowlers in the first four overs of each innings, the first round of matches have been a hit with the youngsters, and is a great initiative to grow the game of cricket in Gisborne.

Below is a report of the first round of matches.

It was different.

But last night's T15 Blast for Y7-10s at Nelson Park has already proven to be an instant hit for cricket. Dylan Foster (13 runs off balls, batting at no.7) and Matthew van Zyl (8 off 17 from no.6) were the heroes, steering the Bollywood Stars to victory by three wickets with one ball left v the Auto Tyre Eagles.

Eagles captain Daniel Stewart won the coin-toss on ground 5 and was the first batsman dismissed - off the second ball of the ninth over - for 2, with the score at 64 after openers Angus Baker (26 off 21) and DJ Penfold (22 off 25) had retired. Their 62 run-stand was the largest of the game, second-drop Travis O'Rourke also batting well with 20 off 22. Michael Foster and Kayley Knight both took 2-10-3, Foster with the new ball and Knight as first-change. The Eagles made 102-4-15.

Penfold was a dominant figure in the field in the second innings, holding three catches: at square leg off the first ball of the innings, short fine leg (2nd ball of the 7th over) and long on (4th ball of the 8th over). Stars' first-drop Liam Barbier (13 off 19) and no.4 Liam Spring (31 off 15) shared a 32 run-partnership for the third wicket, with Eagle's bowlers Peter Reynolds, Jarrod Ormiston, O'Rourke, Noah Torrance-Cribb and Brayden Sycamore all claiming a scalp.

Poverty Bay Cricket's Matt Crampton said: "The kids bought into it, adapted to the format and conditions really well - a lot of them played smart even though it's only a 15 over-game." Eastland Broncos sponsor Deevon Gray is likewise pleased with the "excitement, freshness and sense of identity among the different franchises" while Stewart had a mature take on the season opener.

 "It was an exciting game - both teams played well - that went down to the wire."