Waipuna Valley chase target
Middle order in good nick as Kaipaki make 179
Kaipaki XI looked to break a three-game winning streak by their cricketing friends from Waipuna Valley on Sunday at Kaipaki Oval. It was a sight to behold seeing Kaipaki captain Leighton Parsons and Waipuna Valley Wombats XI captain Carl Schwarz out in the middle of the Oval for the toss.
Parsons won the toss and decided to bat first as the sun started to shine above Kaipaki.
Kaipaki opened with Parsons and Finn Kay, and how magnificent it was to see Kay back in a baggy green and gold cap.
Parsons went earlier, and Kay was looking like he was just about to get going when he fell for 15.
After a couple of fine weeks for Kaipaki, both Kieran West and Dom Smith-Hodgson failed to get going.
Young Hugo Shale on debut steadied the ship for the baggy green and golds, making 18.
In a spot of bother, young Josh Dinan and Xavier Lee came to Kaipaki’s rescue.
Dinan, who is a regular Kaipaki player for their Sunday fixtures and received his 10-game cap last season, is an ex-schoolboy star from Hamilton Boys’ High School. He is a hardhitting batsman and right-arm medium/fast bowler.
On Sunday, Dinan let his bat do the talking, playing a magnificent knock for Kaipaki. He smashed four 4s and three 6s, in an innings of 57.
At the other end Lee, in his third game for Kaipaki, was just as good. A talented all-rounder, he can bat anywhere in the batting order and isn’t afraid to play his shots.
Lee was superb, playing shots all around the wicket that included four 4s and four 6s, finishing on 60.
The other player to impress with bat in hand was Kaipaki regular Trent
Butler, backing up his great Saturday innings of 61 with a well-struck 31 as Kaipaki were dismissed for 179.
After lunch, Kaipaki opened up with Dinan and Sean Crotty. In Crotty’s last outing for Kaipaki in March, he took 5-32 against Waipuna Valley.
This time he was just as impressive, helping keep Kaipaki in the game and taking 2-29.
The other bowler to trouble the
Waipuna Valley batsmen was Dylan Jeffries, bowling left-arm spinners and finishing with the figures of 3-10.
But Waipuna Valley were just too good in the end, with Corey Hyde making 48 and Charlie Presswell a fine 64.
Waipuna Valley reached their target five wickets down.
Kaipaki now look forward to playing Waipuna Valley in March at their home ground Stud Oval.