Knocks by Botma, McInnes highlight Gisborne Challenge Cup season so far

The Challenge Cup junior cricket competition is proving a valuable development ground of talent.

What Bjorn Botma and Patrick McInnes have done this season is epic.

Only six Senior C Grade cricketers have bettered Botma’s 81 on November 13 and McInnes’ 81 last Wednesday.

McInnes’ unbeaten 70 for the Boys’ High Second XI in Senior “B” club competition at the weekend is the latest proof of the value of the C Grade Challenge Cup – the four-team T20 competition run on Nelson Park’s artificial pitches from 3.30pm.

With Campion College’s withdrawal for lack of numbers and to focus on their junior colts, a reshuffle of the participants has allowed for the Admiralty under Alex Langford, Blues and Royals led by Caleb Taewa, King’s Own for Jonah Reynolds and Charlie Whitfield’s Life Guards.

Today’s matches will pit the Admiralty against the Blues on the middle wicket and the King’s Own versus the Life Guards on the strip closest to the Enterprise Cars swim centre.

Last Wednesday, Whitfield won the toss on the Enterprise end pitch and chose to bowl vs the Blues and Royals.

The Blues made 164-4, opener McInnes leading the charge with 81 and first-drop Jack Williams hitting the ball cleanly for 29.

The Guards’ guest player, Raiha Reynolds of Takapuna Grammar School and an Aotearoa Māori schoolgirls representative, took 2-16 off three overs. Reynolds got Williams caught and bowled and McInnes caught by Whitfield off the last ball of the innings.

The Life Guards were bowled out for 67 in 12.3 overs, having been set a target of 165.

Opener Tristan Flamwell crunched two boundaries in his knock of 13 off 12 balls – the Guards’ highest individual score.

Much-improved medium-pacer Taimana Lloyd was the pick of the bowlers with 1-13 off two overs. He bowled Flamwell but the game’s most memorable moment came three balls into the sixth over.

Paceman Tarn Boyle (1-9 off 2) bowled a fine bouncer over off stump, which Reynolds (5) hooked down off her eyebrows for four behind square leg. It was a breathtaking shot, but the first and last highlight of the run chase.

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Jonah Reynolds leads by example.

The King’s Own captain scored 28 not out, took 2-15 off four overs and held a catch as his side posted 142-3 against the Admiralty.

The King’s Own won by 16 runs.

Reynolds won the toss on the middle wicket and took first knock.

His batsmen hit four sixes and 13 fours. Younger brother Harvey made 60 from No 2, including one six and eight fours, before he was caught and bowled by Admiralty spearhead Gayesha Mahabalage (1-20 off four).

Harvey shared in stands of 43 and 100 with up-and-coming left-handers Jordyn Haley (13) and Jake Kirkpatrick (10) for the first and second wickets respectively, while the best of the Admiralty bowlers were Cody McMurray (1-23 off three) with the new cherry and off-spinner Archie Gillies (1-19 off 4).

The Admiralty might easily have folded up in pursuit of 143 but for a superb partnership of 76 for the third wicket.

Captain Langford (37) and younger brother Matthew (42) were brilliant value, Matt hitting a straight six to boot.

In bowling seventh man in Mahabalage for 2, Niall Schutte (2-7 off two) struck a decisive blow and Kirkpatrick, 3-14 in 2.2 overs, finished the game by castling No 8 Brandon Fearnley.

The Admiralty were all out for 126 with five balls remaining.

“Both sides made a strong match effort, especially with the bat,” skipper Langford said. “For them, Harvey hit slog sweeps and on drives, while for us, Mattie picked gaps in the field and just knocked the ball around. He batted really well today.”