Young captain carries bat as contest goes down to wire
Kaipaki XI took on Waipuna Valley Cricket Club on Sunday for the second time this season at Stud Oval on Waipuna Rd, Waerenga, one of the most beautiful cricket grounds around.
Waipuna Valley won the first fixture played at Kaipaki in January by four wickets.
The day started with Cooper Robinson being presented his 10-game Kaipaki baggy green and gold cap.
Young Kaipaki captain Dylan Jeffries won the toss and decided to bat first.
Kaipaki opened the batting with Dominic Smith-Hodgson who was on debut for Kaipaki along with Northern Brave player Kristian Clarke.
Clarke, who debuted for the Kaipaki nation at 13, always tries to pull on the Kaipaki green and gold at least once a year.
The Kaipaki nation made an outstanding start.
Smith-Hodgson was first to go, caught at backward point.
For the next few overs, Clarke put on a masterclass, punishing the Waipuna Valley bowlers to all parts of Stud Oval.
Eight times Clarke hit the ball out of Stud Oval, and eight times he hit the ball to the fence.
Clarke made an eye-catching 95 off just 31 balls, including some magnificent shots over long-off, long-on and many over cover.
When Clarke was dismissed, Kaipaki had 115 on the board.
Xavier Lea was next to go, this brought David Fox to the crease.
Fox started well with his first two scoring shots being fours, he then played the support role as Cooper Robinson got into his work.
Robinson is a powerful left-handed batsman and he hit five fours and three sixes.
Like Clarke, Robinson was strong straight, but wasn’t afraid to hit through backward square and played a couple of beautiful cut shots. Robinson went on to make 70. Once he was dismissed this brought Jeffries to the crease.
Fox was then dismissed for 37, including four boundaries.
Jeffries and Josh Dinan put on a nice partnership.
Dinan in his 11th game for the Kaipaki nation hit the ball crisply right from his first ball. He made 40