Kaipaki Green dig deep to show true spirit

Kaipaki Green v Melville HKS Warriors

The match between Kaipaki Green and Melville HKS Warriors expressed what happens when a player pulls on a baggy green and gold cap.

With several regular players out, regular vice-captain Zach Mahaffey did a magnificent job getting a side out onto Kaipaki Oval.

Kaipaki Green batted first. After losing the early wicket of Josh Rush, Sean Gutry came to the crease.

Gutry has become a regular for Kaipaki and played a superb innings, scoring a well put together 44.

The highlight of Kaipaki Green’s innings was the performance of Northland representative Caleb Boswell-Smith who blasted 67 off 34 balls including four 4s and six 6s.

Kaipaki Green posted 163. When it came to Melville’s turn to bat, captain Mahaffey rallied his troops to put in a magnificent effort in the field.

Mahaffey led from the front taking the new ball and finishing with 2-19 off five overs. At the other end Wade, a late call-up, impressed with 3-22.

Gutry and Boswell-Smith topped off fine all-round games, doing the rest of the damage with Gutry taking 2-24 with his little well-directed off-spinners and Boswell-Smith 1-33.

A special mention for 14-yearold Hannah Jacobson, who bowled four very well-directed overs of medium pace.

Melville were bowled out for 147.

It was a great performance by the Kaipaki team which showed the great Kaipaki nation spirit.

Kaipaki Gold v Marist

Kaipaki Gold took on Marist at Innes Common with Marist batting first.

Kaipaki welcomed back Ryan Preston to their team and they started well with the ball.

Mark Dutton took two early wickets and finished with 2-39.

Captain Dylan Jeffries also chimed in with an early wicket with his left arm off-spinners.

Marist batsmen Knight and captain Jono Single then put on an impressive partnership with Knight making 84 and Single 90 including eight 4s and seven 6s.

Kaipaki Gold worked hard to pull the score back with Dillon Alderson taking 3-44, Ryan Preston 2-72 and Jeffries 1-61.

Marist made 272/8 off their 35 overs.

When it came to Kaipaki Gold’s turn to bat, they struggled at the top of the order.

Preston capped off a fine allaround game making 44 and was supported by Shane Whittaker who backed up his runs last week making 22.

Whittaker was a Te Awamutu and Midlands rep in the 1980s at age group level and has been winding back the clock still competing at this level.

Down the order, Trent Butler again showed what a valuable member of the Kaipaki nation he is making 32 off just 26 balls including four 4s and a 6. Butler was Kaipaki’s allrounder of the year in 2021 and is continuing that form in the early parts of 2022.

Kaipaki fell short in their run chase, but made Marist work hard for their win as they batted for 31 overs.

Next weekend three Kaipaki teams will be in action, with both Kaipaki Gold and Green on Saturday, and an experienced team will take on Cambridge Antiques on Sunday at the Cambridge Square.