Kaipaki Green fall short against Gallagher Melville Warriors side
A fantastic day greeted Kaipaki Cricket Club Green as they travelled to Innes Common again to take on Gallagher Melville Cricket Club Warriors.
The team welcomed back former regular Conor Stuthridge to boost the batting with injuries keeping several players out.
Conrad Addison and Sean Telfer also made their much-anticipated debuts for the club while Andrew Bowe made his return.
Kaipaki lost the toss and were sent into the field. Mark Hazelton and inspirational skipper Zach Mahaffey opened the bowling and applied lots of early pressure.
After some early controversy regarding a caught behind, Kaipaki had Melville 25-3 after the first few overs.
Hazelton bowled tremendously for his spell of 1-31 off his seven overs while Mahaffey continued his wickettaking form collecting 2-47 off his spell.
Melville then put a good partnership together to help rebuild their innings.
This was until Sean Gutry (1-31) managed to pick up a wicket with a good catch by Joe Bradly-Arthur at first slip.
After this, however, Kaipaki could not get any more breakthroughs as Melville were clinical in their stroke play.
Melville finished with a strong total of 259 off their 35 overs.
Kaipaki opened the batting with Stuthridge and Thomas Duncan who was promoted to the top of the order.
They made a strong start with Stuthridge playing a vintage innings of 45 (34) looking like he never left, playing strong shots around the ground.
He was supported by Duncan who scored an impressive 29 (32).
Duncan’s innings included a magnificent 6 over mid-off which is now the favourite for the shot of the season.
This strong opening partnership of 73 was followed by solid contributions in the middle order from Richard Parsons 18 (44) and debutant Addison 20 (22) which kept Kaipaki in the fight.
Unfortunately, Kaipaki kept losing wickets which kept them on the back foot.
Telfer on debut also played some impressive shots before his innings got cut short.
Bowe and James Parsons held a resistance but in the end the team ultimately came up short.
Melville Warriors 259/4 (35 overs).
Kaipaki Green 146 (34 overs).