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CRICKET
POVERTY Bay senior women’s player-coach Mel Knight said the Northern Districts under-14 girls’ cricket tournament in Helensville was a positive and enjoyable experience for the whole team.
“We ended up with two wins and two losses and one game rained off,” Knight said.
“It was a big ask of the girls. It’s a long way to go — a whole day to get there and another to come home — but it was definitely worth it.
“There were some good individual performances and great team spirit.”
Knight said Grace Levy was the quickest bowler on show.
“Grace troubled every batter and took her fair share of the wickets.
“Savannah McGhee also took wickets with her slower leg-spin deliveries. Margot Dymock was as consistent as ever and difficult to score from.”
Knight said other new players in the squad really stepped up, with encouraging performances from Jessica and Tegan Hayward and Amy Thomas, who have been playing competitive cricket for only a season.
“Keeley Smiler and Grace Kuil led the way with the bat. Both are capable of hard hitting and intelligent running.”
Knight said the the team were led well by Josie Baxendale. She, Levy and Dymock had been picked for the Poverty Bay team to compete at the Northern Districts secondary girls’ tournament next month.
Poverty Bay opened the u14 tournament with a win against Hamilton.
Hamilton batted first and were restricted to 43 runs from their 15 overs.
“Everyone bowled really well, especially Keeley Smiler and Savannah McGhee, who both picked up two wickets,” Knight said.
“We replied with 46-2 in 9.2 overs. Grace Kuil top-scored with 16 not out and brought home the win with Margot Dymock (6 not out) after Keeley and Grace Levy got us off to a flying start, running on absolutely everything they hit.”
Next up were Waikato Valley — “the hotshots”.
“They scored 112, with some awesome batting.
“Grace Levy, with no wickets for 12 runs off her three overs, and a run-out, was the pick of our team.
“Mandy Pardoe bowled one of the big hitters for a prize wicket. We scored a respectable 81.
“Grace Kuil (15) and Amy Thomas (11) batted well together, running many twos as long grass and drizzle slowed the outfield for our innings.
“Grace Levy and Margot Dymock also contributed to the total.”
Another loss came when the Bay played Northland. Electing to bat first, Poverty Bay posted 83-5.
Amy Thomas (15) and Keeley Smiler (17 not out) led the charge.
“The bulk of the wickets were run-outs as the girls pushed a little too hard at times, trying to pressure the fielders into mistakes,” Knight said.
In reply, Northland were struggling at 24-3 after seven overs.
“That was until Chelsey Trail came out to bat and hit a quick 35 before retiring, with Northland needing 12 runs from the last three overs.
“Grace Levy came back to try to take the game down to the wire. Her pace troubled the batters but as the ball flew between slip and keeper for four runs the game started to slip away and we could see it just wasn’t our day.
“Grace Levy, with 2-14 from her three overs, Tegan Hayward (2-11) and Margot Dymock (1-12) were the pick of the bowlers.”
After the scheduled game against Counties Manukau was rained off, the Bay finshed the tournament with a win against Bay of Plenty.
“The girls were hungry for another win and we restricted them to 50-5, with good bowling and fielding.
“Jessica Hayward, with an excellent caught-and-bowled, finished with 1-2, showing younger sister Tegan (1-4) that she was just as capable with the ball. Grace Kuil and Keeley Smiler each took their fourth catch for the tournament.”
Savannah McGhee and Keeley Smiler opened the batting with a partnership of 26 runs from four overs before retiring, allowing Grace Kuil and Mandy Pardoe to finish the chase in 7.4 overs.