110 over – week 1 review

Matches Nicely Balanced when the Rain came.

Although it was planned as the first round of 110 over cricket in the local competition matches were initially shortened and then abandoned as a result of the unseasonal conditions.  Both fixtures were nicely balanced when the rain set in at about 5:45 pm.

ACOB v Stoke Nayland

At the Botanics Stoke Nayland had something of a stop, start innings.  This was not a result of the conditions but due to some extraordinary performances.  Once Kurt Pahl sorted out his wardrobe malfunction, he looked in good nick punctuating his innings with some fluid drives and pulls.  With Darius Skeaping they added fifty for the first wicket and it appeared things were all fine and dandy for the visiting team.  However, when Skeaping was caught by a nice leg side grab from ebullient wicketkeeper James Graham, ACOB got themselves right back into contention.Ben Hazlett, svelte after his first year in Dunedin at University bowled Pahl and followed this up with identical deliveries to skipper Brendon Hodgson and classy wicketkeeper James Barron to pick up three wickets in his first over back in town. With support from Matthew Grimes, Hazlett had Stoke Nayland on the ropes as they capitulated to 110 for 8 wickets down.  

Burly Dylan Eginton had other ideas as he counter-punched.  Hazlett’s figures were dented somewhat though he did have the final say when he claimed Egington as the final wicket, and his fifth, of the innings. By then, however, Egington had smashed six sixes and six boundaries in a marvelous counter attack as he wrested the initiative back from ACOB and provided Stoke Nayland with a more than competitive total. Ili Tugaga took the key top order wickets of skipper Ben Gully and the talented BJ Barnett to have ACOB reeling in reply.  Graham and Josh Simpson were steadying the ship  when the game was prematurely terminated.

Stoke Nayland  190         Dylan Eginton 82, Kurt Pahl Darius Skeaping 21, Ben Hazlett 5/59, Matthew Grimes 2/29

ACOB                                    26/2       Ili Tugaga 2/15

RESULT                                 DRAW

Wakatu v Nelson College

The match at Victory Square was originally slightly shortened to a 104 over maximum after a late beginning. Home team Wakatu had an uncharacteristically good start which was backed up by solid contributions throughout the batting order.  Seven of their batsmen reached double figures as they showed the benefits of the work they had obviously put in on their bye week. Pugnacious Daniel Hooper was especially strong on the off side as he struck six boundaries and two sixes in a neat innings. Reliable Campbell McLean added the grit to the middle as the unorthodox Hunter Cavill displayed a nice little cameo at the back end of the innings to finish things off. The Nelson College bowling attack was tested with their main wicket taker Jarrod McKay being away at rep duty, but young Wil Bixley displayed perseverance after a dusty start to finish up with an economical spell. Leg spinner Finn Restieaux also bowled a very tidy ten over spell to wrap up the innings.  Wakatu’s total was mammoth in comparison to the rest of their seasons efforts so they will have taken heart from that.

In chase, College lost early wickets but the reliable Raxworthy twins, Finn and Jonty tailored a profitable fourth wicket partnership.  When Finn departed after a classy knock his brother took charge.  Jonty showed controlled aggression as his mature knock included seven boundaries and a powerfully struck six. He was left undefeated when the rain came down and both teams would have been asking what if? 

Wakatu                                167         Daniel Hooper 40, Campbell McLean 23, Will Bixley 3/18, Finn Restieaux 3/20

Nelson College                 117/5     Jonty Raxworthy 60*, Finn Raxworthy 32, Ryan Hooper 3/12, Jared Exeter 2/9

RESULT                                 DRAW

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND – TPL Cricket – ACOB v Stoke/Nayland. Botannics, Nelson, New Zealand. Saturday 17 November 2018. (Photo by Chris Symes/Shuttersport Limited)