A match-winning performance
When 13-year-old Zach Forster was named on the team sheet for Generation Homes Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club Reserves, his focus was on putting in a performance that he could be proud of.
Last week they came up against more mature opposition in the Rotorua Senior Reserve Championship. Never in Zach’s wildest dreams did he think he would be walking off the field with a match-winning performance, taking five wickets (including a hat trick) in a mustwin encounter against the Tokoroa Senior Men’s side at Kaimanawa Reserve.
A mainstay of the Taupo¯ Colts and soon to be graduating to the College XI, this wasn’t Zach’s first appearance for the Lake Taupo¯ senior side, but was by far his most important after he debuted with mixed results last season. This truly was a performance that showed what improvements he has made, and one that will no doubt be talked about for years to come. In two spells of crafty leg spin bowling, the youngster spun rings around his much older counterparts. At times unplayable, Forster finished with figures of 5/25 off 6.2 overs, including the second hat trick this season for a Lake Taupo¯ bowler.
Having just started year 9 at Taupo¯ -nui-a-Tia College, Zach has a rapidly improving cricketing resume after he was recently selected for the Bay of Plenty Lakelands Primary team to compete in the Northern
Districts tournament where he took nine wickets and was the team’s highest wicket-taker. It is performances like this that have been noticed by the selectors of the Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club and coaching staff.
“Zach is a hard working cricketer who thoroughly enjoys his cricket. He spends hours in the nets with not only our senior teams and his own junior team, but in his spare time he is here with his mates too.
“We are working closely with Zach to ensure his transition from college cricket to senior cricket is a smooth one over the next two years, and it certainly is exciting to see him perform like this so early on,” said Lake Taupo Cricket Club Chairman Jerome Dyer.
“Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club is assisting Taupo Cricket to produce the next generation of Black Caps through our Youth
Development Programme,” Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club youth development officer Blaine Inch said. “Zach has driven his own path towards top-level cricket and we are just here to coach and mentor him on his journey alongside many other rising talented youngsters. This is why our club was created and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Zach and the other talented youngsters we have waiting in the wings.”
“I love my time training with the Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club,” Zach said. “They have some great coaches and working with them has seen my cricket really improve.” Not only is Zach a promising talent on the cricket field, but last winter he was selected to play representative rugby for the King Country Roller-Mills tournament. His team came third and won the team trophy for sportsmanship.