Double success for Kaipaki sides at weekend

Kaipaki Gold captain Dylan Jeffries continued his amazing record this season against Melville Warriors by winning the toss, meaning he has only lost one toss all season.

Jeffries decided to bat first, opening with Mac Gilkison. Gilkison played some crisp offside shots early on, not being afraid to lift the ball over the inner circle.

But it was Jeffries who was first to go for a well put-together 25 — he played some of his trademark shots through the leg-side, like Gilkison not being afraid to go over the infield.

This brought Wayne “Robbo” Robinson to the crease. Robbo has helped the Kaipaki nation out time and time again, and loves his cricket. Both Gilkison and Robinson went in quick succession. This brought Kyle Walker and David Fox to the crease.

Walker is a left-handed batsman, and is strong behind square, but he played some powerful off-side shots, one being a magnificent off drive for four during his 20.

The Fox continued to work hard to hold the innings together but when he was run out for 30 and Trent Butler was dismissed for 31, Kaipaki found themselves in a spot of bother.

However, Barath Sampath’s late flourish helped Kaipaki Gold through to 143.

When it came to Melville’s turn to bat, Kaipaki took the new ball with Jeffries and Dharmik Desai.

Jeffries, over the last few weeks, has been bowling left-arm seam and has had the knack of taking early wickets. He repeated this again, taking two early wickets, bowling seven overs and taking 2-10.

Kaipaki’s young seamers were sensational, with Mark Dutton and Gilkison bowling magnificently in tandem. Dutton took 2-14 before being forced off with a back injury, while at the other end Gilkison got some good bounce during his spell of 3-44.

At the halfway mark of the Melville innings, Butler passed the wicketkeeping gloves to Captain Jeffries.

This was an inspired move, with Butler bowling a spell of six overs, taking 1-25 and proving hard to get away.

Jeffries was full of energy, taking two catches and rotating his bowlers cleverly.

Melville came storming back with a partnership that looked as if it would steal victory.

But it was Jeffries who again was in the game, taking a superb catch behind off Fox’s gentle spinners to dismiss the Melville batsman who had just past 50.

Two balls later, Jeffries executed a stumping to give Kaipaki Gold a famous eight-run win for the Kaipaki nation.

Kaipaki Green v Melville Masters

The Kaipaki nation worked hard to put three teams out on the park and nobody worked harder than Zach Mahaffey to make sure Kaipaki Green had a team to run out onto Kaipaki Oval against Melville Masters.

Mahaffey won the toss and decided to bat first.

Early on, co-captain Conor Stuthridge got into his work. He quickly got through to 13 while at the other end Sean Gutry made his way through to 11.

After Stuthridge and Gutry were dismissed, wickets fell in quick succession, exposing the Kaipaki Green tail a lot earlier than they would have liked.

Jarrod Richards, in his first-ever game of cricket, scored a brisk 20, a magnificent effort. Richards hung around long enough for Ben Woolerton to channel his inner Stuthridge by scoring 35 off just 24 balls, including five fours and a six. With Richards and Woolerton’s efforts, Kaipaki Green made it through to 104.

Kaipaki Green started magnificently in the field, with opening bowlers Mark Hazelton and Angus Lynch taking early wickets.

And when Tommy Duncan executed a sharp run-out, Melville were 14 for 3.

The Kaipaki bowlers then took control. Mahaffey continued his good form, taking 3/24, and he was supported by Hazelton, who finished with 3 for 9. The other bowler to get among the wickets was Gutry, with his impressive right-arm off-breaks taking 2-5.

Sammy Wallbank lifted his team with his constant energy in the field and Melville were dismissed for just 64. This victory capped off a magnificent Saturday for the nation, with both teams victorious.

Kaipaki v Cambridge Antiques

A magnificent group of Kaipaki legends took on the Cambridge Antiques in the return fixture, after playing the Antiques in January at the Cambridge Square.