Bay putting together a good run in tournament

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The word is spreading like wildfire.

Coach Graham Hudson's Poverty Bay team are playing great cricket at the Northern Districts senior secondary schools tournament.

He and captain Thorn Parkes have marshalled the troops superbly since the home team lost their first T20 game, against Bay of Plenty Coastlands, to win three straight in Pool B heading into today's 50-over clash with Northland (Pool A).

The Bay ended their T20 campaign with an eight-run win against a plucky Northern Districts Invitation team on Bay fortress wicket Harry Barker Reserve No.4 — they beat both Bay of Plenty Lakelands and the Invitation team on No.4 yesterday.

Parkes has won every toss to date and opted to bat on the past three occasions.

The Bay have defended modest totals — 116 (Counties-Manukau), 114 (BoPL), 123 (NDI) — with energy, sharpness and poise.

Parkes (55 off 49 balls with seven fours) made Poverty Bay's first half-century of the tourney and opener David Situ (34 from 37) also played a great knock in the hosts' total of 123-6, their highest team total to date.

Mannu Sachdev (2-10), Cole Jakicevich-Roberts (2-14) and George Chaplow (2-28) took wickets for the Invitation team.

Left-arm seamer Oscar Taylor (2-26), Max Briant (1-14), Daniel Stewart (1-15) and Cale Pooley (1-22) were the Bay's best bowlers.

Opener Luke Halligan made 45 off 42 balls before being run out by Parkes, and Navi Rai was unbeaten on 28 when the game finished. The ND Invitation team had made 123-6 in 20 overs.

Poverty Bay held their nerve to beat Bay of Plenty Lakelands by two runs yesterday morning.

Both Travis Mitchell and Cale Pooley took 1-22. They bowled the 19th and 20th overs respectively, Mitchell conceding only four runs in the penultimate over.

Poverty Bay captain and spin bowler Thorn Parkes took 1-16.

In the first innings, Mitchell made 41 off 36 balls while his opening partner Jack Faulkner made 25 from 29 balls.

Tall off-spinner Ryan Hall was the pick of Lakelands' bowlers with 3-16 and seamer Sam McLauchlan took 2-25 as the hosts posted 114-8.

Lakelands reached 112-4. Captain, wicketkeeper and opener Cameron Ingram was their top-scorer with 38. First-drop Ben Astwood (21) gave good support.

Today Poverty Bay were to play Northland of Pool A in a crossover match on Harry Barker Reserve No.4.