Another feeble North City effort
Even the return of Mark Gillespie couldn’t save North City’s premier cricket team, who fell to their third consecutive defeat, this time against Eastern Suburbs at Kilbirnie Park, on Saturday.
Gillespie was promoted to open in the one-dayer against Easts, but lasted just four balls. Raj Chawla, at No 5, was the first to reach double figures, making 14.
No 7 Daniel Rose got to 33, but there was precious little other resistance and Norths were back in the shed having scored just 101 in 41.3 overs.
Skipper Craig Shanks said they were on the back foot early – at one point they were 8-4 – and never recovered.
Easts strolled to victory in 20 overs, with just two wickets down. Gillespie took both wickets and went for 33 in his 10 overs.
‘‘Easts showed why they are the defending champs – they’re a well- drilled unit,’’ Shanks said. ‘‘But it was a real off day for us.’’
The past three performances were well below par, he said.
‘‘You really can’t fault the training and the attitude, but some hard work needs to be done [in the middle] before shots are being played.’’
Having Gillespie among the Norths players – he isn’t required for the Firebirds during their Twenty20 campaign – was a fillip, Shanks said.
Englishman Matt Green, who will open the batting for Norths, arrives this week and will be into the firing line immediately when Norths face powerhouse Karori at Karori Park on Saturday.