Swann won the toss, opting to bowl.
Dragons second-drop Alex Shanks (43 retired from 36 balls), No.5 Bekko Paige (33 retired off 26), captain first-drop Sebastian Wilson (26 from 13) and Theo Mackay (24 off 30), at six, were central figures in the best all-round batting effort of the T15 season, which began on November 3.
Swann (1-27 off five overs), John Broad (1-29-4), Lukas Fry (1-32-5) and Taylor Scott (1-34-4) were the successful wicket-takers, with Rhys Grogan bowling four overs (maiden included) at the cost of only six runs.
The Pups’ batting approach was measured.
Wicketkeeper-opener Jack Whitehead-McKay (22 off 18) was the first to fall, with the score at 28.
Powerful left-hander Dylan Torrie (No.5) and Swann (No.6) upped the tempo with big knocks.
Torrie clubbed 65 retired off 34 balls with two sixes and 11 fours.
Swann’s placement and urgency netted him 28 retired from 30 balls . . . batting retirements being mandatory, at 30 runs or 30 balls, whichever occurs first.
Seamers Wilson (1-8-3), Jakeb Brown (1-14-1), Akira Makiri (1-17-2), Theo Mackay (1-35-3) and keeper-cum-leg-spinner Shanks (1-21-3) all worked hard to break the Pups’ batting partnerships.
Torrie and Lukas Fry (9, at-a-run-a-ball) put on 53 for the fifth wicket.
Torrie earlier shared a 44-run stand with Malsha Mahabalage (16 off 19) for the fourth wicket.
Torrie was the Pups’ man-of-the-match while teammate and Gisborne Boys’ High School Year 10 student Jack Whitehead-McKay showed great leadership in support of his captain Swann, a Y8 Campion College student.
“I’ve enjoyed playing under Hamish because he’s a good leader,” Whitehead-McKay said.
“He’s very positive and, as a captain, he gives everyone in the team opportunities.”
