Taranaki women secure silverware

The Taranaki women’s team travelled to Donnelly Park, Levin to compete in the inaugural central districts women’s T2O competition where Manawatu, Nelson and Wairarapa were also represented.

First up was Nelson. Winning the toss Taranaki chose to bowl, with Nelson making 108-5. Wickets were shared between five bowlers, but some good death bowling by Monique Rees and Sophie Gurnsey saw the last two overs go for eight runs only.

Taranaki lost an early wicket but recovered to reach the target for the loss of six wickets and seven balls to spare. The top scorers were Kelsey Husband with 18, Mel Megaw 19 and Taila Hurley, 28 not out.

There were two games on Sunday and Wairarapa were first up. Wairarapa won the toss and elected to bowl first. Taranaki made 140-5, with an 81 run second wicket partnership between Aimee Watkins, who scored 56, and Megaw, with 32, providing the bulk of the runs

In reply Wairarapa lost two early wickets but recovered with an 83 run third wicket partnership. Once this was broken they lost wickets at regular intervals and fell four runs short at 136-6. Hurley, with 3-17 and Monique Rees, with 2-25, were the pick of the bowlers.

The win set up a final against the other unbeaten team, Manawatu. Manawatu won the toss and elected to bat, making 142-6, with bowler Hurley picking up 2-34 and Husband 2-29.

In reply Taranaki made a great start with Emily Cunningham and Watkins getting through to 75 before Cunningham was out for 25. Megaw joined Watkins and they continued to take the attack to the bowlers, keeping on track with the required run rate.

Taranaki eventually secured the win in the last over, with four balls to spare. Watkins was 80 not out off 47 balls and Megaw was on 25 not out.

A fantastic result and great way to end the season for the woman.

Revital Fertilisers Taranaki Taranaki will head to Auckland this weekend to try and secure the Hawke Cup – the holy grail of district cricket. Taranaki last held the cup in 2007.

Selectors will name their team Wednesday night with the game starting on Friday and ending Sunday. Live scoring can be found on the NZC website.

Taranaki Lower Grade Cricket Results – 3 Feb 2018

TET Senior Grade

Woodleigh 241 (L Tuckett 85, J Quinney 48, J Phillips 58, B Taylor 25, D Lewis 2-59, M Davis 2-37, R Walker 3-62, D Wadsworth 2-37) lost to Pihama 243-5 ( K Fleming 52, G Batchelor 75, C Hammersly 90no, D Lewis 26no, B Taylor 3-22) by 5 wkts

Inglewood 167 (P Potroz 20, K Dravitski 37, J Redpath 46, H Birss 3-27, M Pease 3-44, D Perrett 2-16) b Auroa 158 (R Muller 37, S Fevre 51, N Andrews 3-41, C Hucker 3-41, R Curtis 3-12) by 9 runs.

Budget Rentals 2nd Grade One Day

NPBHS 2nd XI 186-6 (L Borrell 36, Q Mills 50, M Lee 3-32) lost to Merrilands Mandrills 189-8 (M Brown 52, D Earby 54, A Kelly 36, W Andrews 2-38, J McGrath

3-41, A Lawrence 2-35) by 2 wkts.

South 40 over Grade

Stratford Old Dogs 234 (L Gould 26, N Harper 90, J Johnson 46) b Midhurst 89 (S McDonald 25, T Higgins 3-40, R Barnard

5-14) by 145 runs Turuturu Titans 345-6 (D Pittams 49, R Young 107no, A Moffit 61, E Payne 3-36) b Turuturu Blue 61-8 by 284 runs.

Budget Rentals North 3rd Grade (top 6) One Day

Fitzroy Black 226-8 (J McCullough 47, J Behrent 34, M Leggett 35, K Williams

41no. M Moorby 2-36, H Hislop 3-21) b NPMU Blue 92-9 (N Legget 5-26, S Woodhead 3-28) by 134 runs Merrilands

110 (P Brown 36, D Allan 24, S Valentine

4-16, C Morris 2-10, K Sorenson 2-10) lost to NPMU Hounds 111-4 (E Herlihy 46, C Rae 2-33) by 6 wkts.

Budget Rentals 4th Grade (bottom

4) One Day

Fitzroy Red 292-3 (D Putt 154 no, T Biesiek 42, S Blackmore 39) b Woodleigh

229 (T Manton 43, T Eldershaw 67, C Vertongen 37, S Morratti 3-17, S Blackmore 3-39) by 63 runs Fitzroy White 137-9 (CMcEldowney 22, S Lee 27, D Williams

43, K Odhekar 2-15) lost to NPOB Stars Warriors 139-5 (P More 27, A Singh 26, P Sharma 32, S Lee 2-47, D Williams 2-24) by

5 wkts.