Heartache as side gets agonisingly near a win

It went down to the last ball

Taranaki Women’s Cricket

The team travelled to Palmerston North to take on Manawatu in the final game of the Mike Shrimpton Trophy and to defend the Copelin Challenge Trophy.

Taranaki lost the toss and were put in to bat, scoring 193-8 off their 40 overs. Emily Cunningham scored a hard hitting 92 and was the back bone of the innings. Monique Rees contributed with 27.

Manawatu lost an early wicket in their chase, but put on a big partnership to get themselves into a winning position at 159-3.

A great spell from Kelsey Husband (2 for 38) removed two senior batsmen and brought Taranaki back into the game.

Taila Hurley bowled well, picking up 2 for 32. With 8 runs required off the last over it went down to the last ball, with scores tied and Manawatu scrambling through for a single to win the game and the Copelin Challenge Trophy.

Three teams were tied at the top of the points table so the tiebreaker came down and net run rate that saw Manawatu pip Taranaki by 1.1 runs to take out the Mike Shrimpton Trophy.

Revital Fertilisers Premier Grade Round 3 was completed and a new team at the top of the table was found. NPOB v NPMU After a delayed start NPOB continued

at 20 for 3 but batted their way out of trouble with James McDougall scoring an unbeaten 115, helping NPOB declare at 231 for 7. That left Woodleigh an impossible task and stumps were pulled at 130 for 3, with Peter Ingram 64 not out. The 1st innings lead left NPOB as the new leaders of the competition.

At the start of round 3 Hawera were sitting at the top but came in to day two with a big task ahead of themselves, chasing NPMU’s 301 for 8 declared. Hawera started at 115 for 1 but lost an early wicket on day two, at 229 for 4. The game was evenly poised but Hawera lost their last six wickets for just 21 runs, giving NPMU the first innings points. Josh Barrett doing the damage picking up 4 for 10 off 5.1 overs.

Stratford completed a demolition of FDMC by an innings and 104 runs. In reply to Stratford’s 311 for declared FDMC were bundled out for

133, with Grant Commerford picking up 4 wickets, their second turn at bat didn’t get any better as FDMC were knocked out for 74, with Ellis Taylor picking up the impressive figures of

5 for 6 off 15 overs.

Inglewood v NPBHS There was no play on the second day in this match due to the pitch and surrounds being too wet.

That left NPBHS securing 1st innings points.