Pitch lets Levin down after park revamp
CRICKET: Donnelly Park in Levin looked a picture for its first major men’s match since getting a revamp. But the pitch wasn’t up to scratch.
On day one of the Central Districts A versus Wellington A match on Sunday, the outfield was fast and dry and a smattering of spectators made the most of the shade on the raised bank, looking toward Lake Horowhenua.
Bad weather earlier this month meant the new changing rooms weren’t quite ready, but the marquees put up to replace them only added to the vista.
However, the 22 yards in the middle didn’t play ball and the pitch started to break up towards the end of play, leading to the captains and umpires abandoning play. ‘‘There were a couple of really steepling bouncers and we decided that it wasn’t fit for play,’’ said match manager Matt Gibbs, from the Horowhenua-ka¯piti Cricket Association.
The teams moved to a club pitch for a two-day game, but bad weather on Monday meant there was no play. So, on Tuesday, the sides played a 50-over match.
The cricket association and the district council will now develop a plan to apply for funding for a new wicket block, so Levin is in the frame to host first-class cricket.
‘‘It’s going to be a fantastic facility. It’s a little frustrating. Apart from the pitch, everything went really well. Unfortunately, the pitch is pretty key,’’ Gibbs said.
The ground will continue to host club cricket for the rest of the season, as well as a Central Districts women’s twenty20 tournament in early February, which includes Manawatu¯ .
The pitch only gets dangerous with quicker bowlers in the 140kmh range, Gibbs said.
On the field, Wellington struggled early on Sunday, although former international Michael Papps looked a class above the others.
Central were two wickets down when the match was stopped later in the afternoon.
Wellington went to lunch on 125/7, but their tail wagged and Alex Ridley struck 44 not out off only 37 balls to push them past 200.
In the one-day game, Central’s opening bowler Nav Patel took 1-27 in his 10 overs, including Papps on the second ball of the innings, before Wellington eased home.
The Central innings never really got going, with only Angus Shaw passing 40.
Wellington opening bowlers Travis Muller, who played for Western Province in South Africa, and Ridley were impressive, as was leg-spinner Peter Younghusband, well known for his sub-fieldsman cameos for the Black Caps.
One-day match: Central Districts A 183/9 in 50 overs (Shaw 42, Ridley 3-29) lost to Wellington A 184/6 in 40.5 overs (James Price 48) by four wickets.
Three-day match: Wellington A 211 in 45.3 overs (Papps 68, Ridley 44 not out, Patel 3-58, Willem Ludick 3-47, Daniel Ingham 3-50) drew with Central Districts A 41/2 in 10.5 overs.