Kaipaki win Schwass/Currie Cup
Annual clash a highlight for Kaipaki
The Kaipaki Cricket Club XI travelled to the scenic Stud Oval in Waerenga on Sunday to take on Waipuna Valley Cricket Club for the Schwass/ Currie Cup.
This annual fixture is always special for Kaipaki, with the founding father of the Waipuna Valley Cricket Club, Carl Schwarz, being a former Kaipaki captain.
Fraser Ward played his 10th game for Kaipaki on Sunday and received his baggy green and gold cap.
Kaipaki captain Dylan Jeffries won the toss and the visitors batted first.
Nat Burrows and Leighton Parsons were the opening batters.
Burrows on a weekend break from playing for the Central Districts Hinds is a player who always gives back to her beloved Kaipaki Club, and plays whenever the opportunity presents itself.
She was first to go, after chipping one to mid-wicket and Parsons was then joined by Sean Bonenkamp.
Parsons was next to go. Te Awamutu resident Jono Sullivan bowled him a beauty, taking the outside edge. Parsons made 20.
When Bonenkamp was bowled for 12, Kaipaki were in a bit of bother.
This brought the talented pair of Ward and Harry Lowe together.
Ward was the aggressor, playing some eye-catching lofted shots over mid-wicket and wide mid-on.
Ward made 41 including two sixes and four fours before he was caught in the deep.
Lowe was then joined by David Fox and they put together a nice partnership.
Lowe played some beautiful shots, picking when to attack and when to defend, during a very well played 40.
At the other end, Fox looked like he was set to bat through the innings before he top-edged a sweep and was dismissed for 22.
Up next was Andrew McLean who carried his bat to finish 53 not-out, including eight fours.
McLean was watchful at first before lifting the scoring rate, he played some outstanding cut-shots, classic cover drives and wasn’t afraid to loft the ball when the opportunity was
presented.
McLean was involved in mini partnerships firstly with the impressive Matt Butcher and then captain Jeffries.
Kaipaki finished with 202/8 after their allotted 40 overs.
After lunch, Kaipaki entered Stud Oval with a feeling of optimism.
They opened their bowling account with Parsons, who was acute and at times got a bit of zip off the seam.
During his impressive eight overs on the bounce he took an impressive low down caught and bowled, finishing with 2/21.
Sharing the new ball, coming up the hill, was Butcher.
Butcher bowled with real energy, getting good bounce and early on bringing the ball sharply back into the batsmen.
Captain Jeffries then made some inspiring bowling changes. Firstly by bringing Mac Gilkison on, bowling up the hill.
Gilkison mixed up his line by coming sometimes around and over the wicket.
Using the different angles, Gilkison continued his wicket-taking form this season by finishing with 3/27 including a maiden.
At the other end, captain Jeffries bowled left-arm seam up, causing problems for all the Waipuna Valley batsmen.
Jeffries took 3/10 off four overs, with all three of his scalps being cleaned bowled.
To seal victory for Kaipaki, Northern Districts A medium-pacer Erin Hunt dismissed Waipuna Valley captain Schwarz, who over the years has been a been a hard player to dislodge in this annual fixture. Waipuna Valley where dismissed for 88.
The Kaipaki crew in the field were just as impressive as their bowlers.
McLean rounded off a great allround game with two catches. Ward took a sharp catch at mid-wicket to finish the game off, making it a day he won’t forget for a long time.
Butcher and Fox also took catches. The victory secured Kaipaki the Schwass/Currie Cup for the first time in four years.