Kaipaki in mates v mates match

On the last Saturday of the regular club season, Kaipaki’s two club sides, Gold and Green, clashed at the nation’s capital, Kaipaki Oval.

Captain Dylan Jeffries, who has had a fantastic knack all season of winning the toss, won another one and decided to bat first.

Gold opened the batting with James Thomas, who got his team off to a flyer, scoring a rapid 20 before he was dismissed.

At the other end was Fraser Ward, a fine young player with a big future. Once he gets going he is hard to stop, proven by his 92 off just 63 balls.

While Ward was at the crease, he spent time with a player who made his debut for Kaipaki back in 1994, Brendan Turney. The bulk of the players who featured in Saturday’s game weren’t even born then.

Up until Saturday, Turney had only ever passed 100 once and he was in superb form, punishing the Kaipaki Green bowling attack to all parts of the oval.

Turney scored a magnificent 107 not out off just 97 balls, carrying his bat to help Kaipaki Gold through to 281/3 off 35 overs.

The other Gold player to get among the runs was Hiki Toroa, who scored a powerful 29 off 34 balls.

For Green, Zach Mahaffey took 1-40 with his little seamers, Sean Gutry 1-49 with his off-spinners, and young William Jacobson took 1-46.

When it came to Gold’s turn with the ball, captain Jeffries was again in the wickets, pushing his wicket total up to an amazing 31 for the season, taking 4-25 off seven.

Green worked hard to stay in the contest with Jacobson making an eye-catching 62 off 49 balls.

Evergreen Leith Schwass played some nice lofted shots during his 28 not out.

All the Gold bowlers stood out: Mac Gilkison took 2-20, Dharmik Desai took 2-25, on debut leg-spinner Hamish Patel took 1-44 and Murdoch Beech chipped in with 1-44.

Gold came away with the win, but the Kaipaki nation was the winner on the day.

Kaipaki XI v Clutch Coaching Academy XI

Kaipaki hosted a Hamilton Academy XI on a late March Sunday, where the Oval looked like a post card and pre-game there were some special presentations made.

Kaipaki legend Howie Baker was presented with his 50-game badge, while Andrew “Plank” McLean and Josh Dinan were presented with their 10-game caps.

Hamilton Academy XI’s Greg Holt won the toss.

Holt, who plays his cricket for the University of Waikato Premier side, decided to bat first.

Earlier on, Kaipaki’s opening bowlers were hard to get away.

Sean Crotty was outstanding at the bowling crease, finishing with the figures 8/2/24/1.

At the other end Dinan finished with 1/57.

For the Hamilton Academy XI the player to stand out was Fraser Ward, who opens the batting for Hamilton Marist premier side, and had pulled on the baggy green and gold cap on Saturday.

Ward was very strong when given width through the leg-side, but also punched the ball well through midoff and cover.

Ward carried his bat making a superb 132 not out and he was supported by another player who had pulled on the baggy green and gold in the past, Daniel Rodgers.

Rodgers made a powerful 52 before he was bowled by Josh Rush, playing his eighth game for the Kaipaki nation.

The other bowler to pick up a wicket was the impressive Trent Butler finishing with 1/14 off four overs before taking the gloves for the second half of the Academy XI’s innings.

Hamish Patel was sharp in the field and bowls little leg-spinners which will be dangerous at the Oval in the years to come.

Clutch Academy XI made 308 off their 40 overs.

When it came to Kaipaki’s turn to bat, they opened with Sean Bonenkamp and Dylan Jeffries.

Bonenkamp and Jeffries got Kaipaki off to a solid start, before Bonenkamp dragged one on for 22 and Jeffries was given out leg before for 25.

This brought McLean to the crease and when he passed 50, including 7 x 4s and 2 x 6s, it looked like he was going to take the nation close, before he was cruelly stumped when he missed a very wide bouncer and the wicket keeper threw his stumps down. McLean made 52.

At the other end he was supported by David Fox, who looked like he was going to convert his ninth 40 over the past two seasons to a 50 when he was caught at point for 48.

The Fox hit 8 x 4s, all through point and cover.

Dinan chipped in with 20 including a well-hit 6, and Baker played a couple of eye-catching shots, including a lofted drive during his 21.

At the bottom of the order Sean Gutry struck the ball well before Kaipaki were bowled out for 240.

The Kaipaki nation competed well against a team full of premier and A grade Hamilton cricketers.