Mangapapa keep hold of MCC Bat

SUCCESSFUL DEFENCE: Mangapapa School retained the MCC Bat when they withstood the challenge of Central School on Thursday. The Mangapapa team are, back (from left): Leo Starck (captain), Anaru Lucas, Kayden Hawkins, Mitchell van Zyl and Cameron Walters. Front: Geisha Mahabalage, Charlie Holdsworth, Aiden Norris and William Edginton. Picture supplied

CRICKET

Anaru Lucas and Charlie Holdsworth saved the day.

Their heroic eight-run stand for the sixth wicket meant Mangapapa School retained the coveted MCC Bat in the face of the challenge by Central School on Thursday.

Mangapapa principal Paul Sadler was delighted to hear of the grand spirit in which the game was played in addition to the result: “We’re proud of our team, appreciative of the tough challenge that Central put to us and conscious also of the long history of the MCC Bat — a tradition based on tight tussles and competition. This was definitely the case on Thursday, with both teams in it all the way.

“With the end of the school year fast approaching and lots of school events coming up, we’ll proudly put the MCC Bat in the cabinet and look forward to more challenges in early 2021.”

Mangapapa captain Leo Starck won the toss at Nelson Park in perfect conditions for the nine-a-side T20 match.

The Charlie Castles-led Central posted 81-7. First-drop Castles was the leading run-scorer with 18 from 16 balls in 31 minutes.

Opening bowler Starck took 2-6 off four overs and tall seamer Cameron Walters, 2-12 off four.

Finn Robertson and Archer Allen put up 33 for the first wicket in 8.2 overs with the second-wicket stand of Robertson and Castles worth 27 after 13.2 overs.

In the chase, Mangapapa recovered from being two wickets down with three runs on the board after 1.1 overs (opener Mitchell van Zyl and Walters put on 25 runs for the third wicket) but were never able to shake off Central entirely: the first ball of seamer Auric Pocock’s spell — he took 2-15 off three overs — was a classic Yorker that started on leg stump and hit middle.

When Anaru Lucas came out to bat at No.9 with 4.3 overs left, he and Charlie Holdsworth had eight runs to score for the win.

Central’s bowlers, led by speedster Archer Allen, had created chances and fielded well.

But Holdsworth showed skill and courage to finish with three not out from No.7, and Lucas hit the winning runs, a big pull-shot over midwicket, to bring up the win off the fourth ball of the 18th over.

Theirs was an outstanding effort in a heart-thumping finish.

Central coach Cam McNaught said: “It was a great match, very close at the end. Both teams had opportunities to win a ding-dong battle. The momentum felt like it turned every time a wicket fell or runs were scored. The kids had a blast.”