Tigers slaughtered at Kerikeri High

WRMK Kerikeri 325/4 (40) Tikipunga Tiki’ Tigers 89/ 10 (18.5):

Kerikeri handed the cellar dwellers of the Northland Reserve Grade competition an absolute thumping in week 6/10 of the provincial 40 Over Competition at Kerikeri High School on Saturday afternoon.

Tiki’ Tigers are the new team in the competition this summer, perhaps more of a social team with only a handful of experienced players in the ranks, who are yet to earn their first points of the season six weeks in.

But anyone expecting Kerikeri to show some form of leniency would have been let down, the hosts going on to a record a huge win by four wickets with 21 overs to spare.

Kerikeri won the toss and elected to bat. Man of the match Luke Halligan stole the show by staying in for the entire innings to post an unbeaten 176.

Also notable was veteran Simon Hart with 46 (in the last eight overs) with the rest of the runs strewn relatively evenly through the other three players to take their turn at the crease.

Notable efforts in the bowling department included Akesh Deep with a ‘fifer’ (five-wicket haul), and Axle Shepherd with a fourwicket bag. Some were left wondering how long the game would have been if Kerikeri team had opted to field first . . .

Other results from Saturday were, Onerahi Central 150/7 (40) lose to Duracrete Products City 166/9 (40), WBHS 2nd XI 176/2 (34.1) beat Bream Bay 175/5 (40) and Kamo High 1st XI 139/10 lost to Kamo Reserves 143/9.

Saturday’s win leaves Kerikeri in second place on the 40 Over competition ladder.

Standings are: City 22 points, Kerikeri 19, Maungakaramea 14, Kamo High 13, Whangarei Boys High 13, Bream Bay 9, Kamo club 8, Onerahi 6, Tikipunga Tigers 0. *** The 40-over competition now takes a break before resuming on January 12.

Reserve Grade teams begin their T20 campaign this Saturday.

Kerikeri are away to City, with the players reportedly very much looking forward to playing on the hallowed turf of Cobham Oval. The match has a 10.30am start but the Far North side has a bye in the afternoon (teams play two T20 games a day unless they have a bye).

Kerikeri will host four T20 games and three Whangarei clubs on December 1, playing Kamo club and then Bream Bay on one pitch, while Bream Bay play City on the other wicket for the morning fixture, and Kamo club for the afternoon one.