Rosetown Rogues’ finale an epic run chase
With a great setting and a beautiful autumn day, Taupo¯ village green was looking in great shape to hold the cricket match between Te Awamutu’s Livingstone Building Rosetown Rogues and Carterton’s Parkvale Puffers.
Cards were drawn and Rogues captain for the day Te Oti Kaihe won the toss, putting the Puffers into bat.
The pitch was playing like a golf green and the opening bowling pair kept the Puffers batters under control at 0/39 after eight overs.
Glen Patterson and Mike Naylor came on and took a couple of quick wickets to have the Puffers 2/80 after 20 overs.
With the Rogues bowling well, the game seemed in the balance at lunchtime with the Puffers getting 4/217 off 40 overs.
Needing 218 to win, the chase didn’t begin well for the Rogues, with Patterson promoted up the order, but he was bowled on his third ball putting the Rogues 1/0.
They put on a second-wicket partnership of 60 before Kyle Owens retired on 30, then Andrew Macpherson got caught trying a reverse sweep, Rogues were then 2/65.
Next to depart was Peter Clark for 17 (3/82). Kaihe and Gavin Chatfield set about resurrecting the innings and put on an 80-run partnership before they both retired on 31.
With the Rogues keeping pace with one run per ball needed, it came down to the last over with Michael “Porky” Earwaker and John “Schultz” Bernau needing 10 runs to win the game.
The first ball bowled was a dot ball — 10 off five needed. Second ball, two runs over mid-wicket then it was eight needed off four.
The third ball saw two more runs after an educated French cut — six off three balls.
They came down to the final ball needing three runs to win or two to draw.
Bernau smashed the ball but it only went between mid-wicket long-on and they ran for the first run before turning for the second, which could have drawn the match.
Unfortunately, Earwaker was run out and that was game over.
It was a great match and everyone enjoyed the day.
The Rogues are already looking forward to next season and wish to thank their sponsors.