Strong performance with bat and ball sees Kaipaki victorious
As Kaipaki Gold’s game was cancelled due to poor conditions in Hamilton, the sun shone down on Kaipaki Oval as Kaipaki Green took on Eastlink Black on Saturday.
One of the highlights of the day for Green was Alisha Rout, Sarah Laing and Hannah Jacobsen all playing in the same team for Kaipaki.
It was a special day for Laing as she was presented her 10-game cap for Kaipaki.
Kaipaki Green’s inspirational captain, Zach Mahaffey, won the toss and elected to bat first.
Green welcomed back stars Conor Stuthridge and Rout.
Mahaffey made a masterful decision sending out Stuthridge and Rout to open the batting and you couldn’t tell neither batsman had picked up a bat since last season.
Both openers took on the opening bowlers, striking a 6 each before falling in quick succession.
This brought Sean Gutry to the crease and once again he steadied the ship for Kaipaki.
Gutry was superb, playing shots all around the wicket that included hitting three 4s and a magnificent 6.
He made 45.
At the other end, nobody looked like getting Richard Jacobsen out as he made a solid 18 before having to retire.
At 104/6, the lower order then put some great little partnerships together.
Ben Woolerton was again in the runs, scoring a well-puttogether 27.
Josh Rush, back for his first game of the season, made 15.
Captain Mahaffey also made 15 not-out.
Kaipaki Green ended their innings on 171/9
Woolerton and Hannah Jacobsen opened the bowling with Woolerton taking a wicket in his first over.
Jacobsen once again proved hard to get away from, going for only 10 runs off her four overs bowled.
In the middle parts of the Eastlink Black Innings, Captain Mahaffey and Gutry were outstanding.
Mahaffey finished with 3-26 and Gutry 2-18.
For the second weekend in a row, Gutry put in a matchwinning performance.
The other bowlers to impress were Rush, who finished with 2-20 to round off a great return match, and Mark Hazelton who took 1-21 off seven overs.
A special mention to Kaipaki legend Leith Schwass who filled in for the injured Richard Jacobsen in the field, taking the gloves and doing a great job for his team.
Schwass was backed up in the field by Jarrod Richards.
Eastlink finished on 162/9 falling short of Kaipaki Green’s target.
Eastlink’s captain Will Mitchell came close to steering his team home with a fighting 21 not-out, backing up his 3-25 with ball in hand, but it was not to be — a great performance by the Kaipaki Green side.