Poverty Bay Year 6 boys’ cricket team stay in the contest

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

They're in every game.

The Poverty Bay Year 6 boys' cricket team lost to the Eastern Suburbs Tornadoes by two wickets and Karori by nine runs at the Riverbend tournament in Hawke's Bay yesterday.

They earned the respect of opposition coaches, though.

Eastern Suburbs' David Lambie said the Poverty Bay boys “dug deep and punched above their weight” with the bat.

“We were a bit lucky to get away with a win in the end,” he said.

Both 30-over games were played on grass pitches at Frimley Park.

Eastern Suburbs captain Myles Howlett won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Left-arm seamers Tom Lambie (2-8) and Tobie Crawford (1-17) opened the bowling. Medium-pacer Harry Renwick (1-7) and off-spinner Hunter Taylor (1-14) gave them quality support.

Caleb Taewa, batting at No.6, retired for 30 from 39 balls (three fours, one six) and was the Bay's MVP (most valuable player).

First-drop Joel Kirkpatrick scored 16 runs in Poverty Bay's other innings of consequence in a total of 117-7.

Riki Reedy (2-12), Cam Walters (1-6), Dillon Jackson (1-8), Jonah Reynolds (1-16) and Kirkpatrick (1-16) all took wickets for the Bay.

However, Eastern Suburbs reached 121-8 in 22.3 overs, their No.2 Finn Barker striking seven fours in his 35-ball 38.

Taewa led Poverty Bay in the next game, won the toss and put Karori in to bat. They made 135-5.

Opener Ralph Kirkland retired for 30 off 43 balls.

Bay left-arm seamers Jack Holden (1-11) and Taewa (1-13), plus medium-pacer Jackson (1-17), took wickets.

Jackson won the Bay's MVP award for his excellent innings of 27 from 45 balls at No.4, and Poverty Bay coach Jimmy Holden rated his wicketkeeping efforts as “his best of the tournament so far”.

Poverty Bay got to 126-9 in 30 overs.

Jethro Elliott (2-9) and Charlie Hercus (2-16) were the pick of the Karori bowlers.

Leo Starck was named captain for Poverty Bay's last game at the tournament, against the Eastern Suburbs Rockets at Park Island today.