Half-century to Blues and Royals skipper Kirkpatrick in Gisborne Challenge Cup secondary school cricket

Challenge Cup high school cricket continued this week with Round 3 wins to The Blues and Royals and The Admiralty.

Joel Kirkpatrick played well for 50 in T20 Challenge Cup secondary school cricket at Nelson Park on Wednesday.

And but for a great catch by Blues & Royals’ Kobe Donnelly - off a full toss from medium-pacer Matthew Langford - Life Guards captain Kirkpatrick and Charlie Whitfield (13 not out) might have put on a lot more than 50 for the fifth wicket.

Kirkpatrick won the toss in Round 3 of the Senior C Grade competition, chose to bat first and from four wickets down with 20 runs on the board, he rallied with Whitfield and his side reached 70 in 13.1 overs.

Blues and Royals reached their target in the 13th over for the loss of five wickets.

Donnelly made 24 before being stumped off Whitfield’s left-arm orthodox spin.

He shared in a 48-run opening stand with Langford, who made 32, including five fours. Langford plays well straight and should now look, once in, to post half-centuries. He was eventually stumped off the bowling of Lachlan Smith (1-29-3), who has a good inswinger.

Kirkpatrick and Blues opposite Patrick McInnes did good service to their teammates by batting those players of lesser experience up.

The Guards’ captain made special mention of Van Zyl’s showing with bat and ball, and his teammate Niall Schutte’s effort in the field.

The Admiralty are getting themselves together.

The Caleb Taewa-led Admiralty posted 142-5 in a 74-run win over The King’s Own under the leadership Jonah Reynolds.

Taewa won the toss, opted to bat and the multi-talented Harvey Reynolds did all he could to harry the Admiralty’s progress.

As a gloveman, he held a catch off older brother Jonah’s bowling to dismiss dangerous opener Jack Williams (4) and stumped next man in Tharuka Fernando (12) off leg-spinner Pranash Senthooran (1-16-3).

As a leggie himself, Harvey Reynolds bowled left-hander Kushan Malimage (15).

Jonah Reynolds took 2-24-2.

Malimage put on 43 with Cody McMurray, who batted at 5 and was outstanding for the Admiralty.

He finished with 37 at a run-a-ball, sharing a partnership of 54 with Taewa, who top-scored with an unbeaten 40.

The King’s Own were forced to dodge numerous raindrops in their dig. Opener Harvey Reynolds made 16 off 12 balls, announcing his intentions immediately by pulling the first ball from seamer Flamwell to the boundary.

Off-spinner Malimage (1-10-2) was tidy at first change.

The athletic Williams took the outfield catch of the Challenge Cup so far - running back to his right on the boundary.

Before that, the King’s Own were 3-63 one ball into the 10th over and close to where they had to be in terms of run rate required.

Williams, bowling straight with excellent control over a wet ball, produced the perfect length to go through left-hander Senthooran (10) two balls into the 11th over. Senthooran had impressed with his technique and batsmanship to that point.

The King’s Own were dismissed for 68 in the 11th over.

SCOREBOARD

The Blues & Royals 71-5-12.2 overs (Matthew Langford 32, Kobe Donnelly 24; Charlie Whitfield 1 wicket for 7 runs off 2 overs, Lachlan Smith 1-29-3) def The Life Guards 70 all-out in 13.1 overs (Joel Kirkpatrick 50, Charlie Whitfield 13; Kobe Donnelly 2-5-3, Callum McInnes 1-1-3, Langford 1-6-1.1) by 26 runs.

The Admiralty 142-5 (Caleb Taewa 40 not out, Cody McMurray 37, Kushan Malimage 15; Jonah Reynolds 2-24-4, Pranash Senthooran 1-16-3, Harvey Reynolds 1-29-4) def GBHS The King’s Own 68 all-out in 10.2 overs (Harvey Reynolds 16, Jonah Reynolds 14, Pranash Senthooran 10; Cody McMurray 1-2-1, Tristan Flamwell 1-10-2, Kushan Malimage 1-10-2, Jack Williams 1-10-2.2 overs) by 74 runs.