‘Solid’ bowling effort from the Bay

Cricket

Some days the ball follows you.

That was the case yesterday for Poverty Bay Year 6 cricketer Caleb Taewa, who held three catches in Game 1 of the Riverbend tournament.

The Jimmy Holden-coached Bay yesterday lost by 51 runs to Cornwall Blue at Frimley Park.

It was the first of their six 30-over games in the tournament. Today they were to play Rotorua and Western Bay of Plenty White on artificial pitches at Frimley.

“Our bowling effort all-round was solid and we held every catch,” Holden said.

“After drinks in the first innings, Cornwall began to run quick singles, which put pressure on us, and that was probably the difference in the end.”

Poverty Bay captain Joel Kirkpatrick won the toss and opted to bowl.

Cornwall reached 163-6, their skipper and MVP (most valuable player) Oliver Withnall (30 retired from No.3), seventh man in Toby Duly (25) and Thomas Benton (22 from No.6) being the home team's major contributors.

Kirkpatrick (2-19 off three overs), left-armers Jack Holden (2-20 off four) and Taewa (1-5 off three), and Leo Starck (1-6 off two) took the wickets for Poverty Bay, who scored 112-8 in reply.

Poverty Bay first-drop Brandon Fearnley (31) and No.4 Arlo Willis (30) both retired, Bay MVP Fearnley and Willis sharing a superb partnership of 67 for the third wicket.

Connor Briggs (1-5), Rohit Shaiju (1-7), Withnall (1-8) and Thomas Benton (1-10) were the best of Cornwall's seamers, wrist-spinner Wiremu Rogers-Hall taking 1-8.