Bay girls win Northern Districts tournament

UNBEATEN: Poverty Bay are the Northern Districts secondary schoolgirls’ champions after a tournament at Tauranga this week. They are, back (from left): Alyssah Swann, Kayley Knight, Mia Reeves, Grace Kuil, Amy Thomas and Alessandra Evans. Front: Grace Levy, Rubi Perano, Maddie Ashworth (captain), Erana Hogarth and Margot Dymock. Picture supplied

CRICKET

POVERTY Bay’s secondary schoolgirls’ cricket team have won a Northern Districts tournament at Tauranga, going through the competition unbeaten.

They played four T20 matches and one 30-over game this week and won them all with a degree of comfort.

Kayley Knight stood out for Poverty Bay — with bat and ball and in the field.

Grace Levy had her moments. She carried her bat in the 30-over match against Waikato Valley for 36 not out and hit the winning runs.

Captain Maddie Ashworth produced strong performances with the ball and Grace Kuil contributed handy runs for the team.

Poverty Bay won the toss in Game 1 of the tournament and chose to send Northland into bat.

Northland made it to 65 for three from 11 overs but then crumbled to be all out for 73. Poverty Bay took the last five wickets for eight runs.

Knight took 2-7, Ashworth 2-11 and Alyssah Swann 2-11.

Poverty Bay chased down the total in nine overs, with Knight scoring 31 not out and Kuil an unbeaten 19.

Game 2 was against Bay of Plenty, who won the toss and chose to bowl.

Erana Hogarth made a quickfire 22 but the main highlight was a partnership of 53 for the seventh wicket between Swann (16) and Alessandra Evans (40 not out).

That helped get Poverty Bay to a total of 144-7.

In reply, BoP managed 94-5.

Knight took 2-10 and held two catches.

Poverty Bay chose to bowl against last year’s winners, Hamilton, in what shaped as a crunch game.

The Hamilton side featured two Northern Spirit players in Emma Baker and Georgina Harris but Margot Dymock (2-9) bowled Baker for a golden duck and Ashworth (2-16) knocked over Harris for eight.

Knight took 2-5.

Olivia Day’s 30 was the only score in double figures for Hamilton.

Chasing just 77, Poverty Bay got there in the 16th over with five wickets down.

Knight scored 38 not out and Kuil, 16.

In their fourth T20 game, Poverty Bay were sharp in the field against Counties Manukau.

Knight, Mia Reeves and Rubi Perano each had a run-out and Counties Manukau were bowled out in 13.4 overs for 70.

Ashworth took 3-8.

With dark clouds looking threatening, the Poverty Bay openers rushed to the crease to try to complete the game.

They needed to get through five overs for the contest to count.

Knight (28 not out) and Levy (6 not out) had Poverty Bay ahead of the required run rate when showers turned to more persistent rain and the game was abandoned at the end of the fifth over. Poverty Bay won on Duckworth-Lewis calculations.

The 30-over game against Waikato Valley yesterday was Poverty Bay’s final fixture in the tournament.

Waikato Valley won the toss and chose to bat.

Captain Erin Hunt suffered a couple of injury blows but fought hard for 27 not out and her team scored 116-8 in 28 overs.

Kuil (3-19) and Levy (2-24) bowled with pace and accuracy and took wickets at crucial times.

Aria Mischewski (22) was run out through a direct hit by Knight, who also took a terrific catch in the deep to dismiss Eve Wolland (23).

In reply, Poverty Bay openers Knight (25) and Levy (36 not out) put on 40 for the first wicket.

Ashworth chipped in with 19 and Reeves, 15. Levy hit a four to seal the victory in the 23rd over.

Poverty Bay won by four wickets.

Ashworth was the leading wicket-taker for the tournament. Poverty Bay also had three of the quickest bowlers in Knight, Kuil and Levy.