Win against Collegians ‘the icing’

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

CRICKET

The Poverty Bay boys’ Year 6 cricket team finished their tournament at Riverbend with a victory by six runs against Wellington Collegians Gold on Saturday.

“The boys bowled and fielded outstandingly: they played to their potential,” said co-coach Mark Langford. “That win was the icing.”

Poverty Bay captain Nathaniel Fearnley won the toss and chose to bat on the same Frimley Park wicket his side had previously played all five of their other matches. No.7 Taylor Scott (12 not out), Connor Starck (10 not out) from No.8 shared a sixth-wicket stand of 29 — in the context of the T20 game, a match-winning partnership: Poverty Bay made 83-6.

Scott (2-7-2), Poverty Bay man-of-the-match Ollie Egan (1-3-2), left-armer Jack Holden (1-8-2), Starck (1-10-2) and Phoenix Pardoe-Crosby (1-12-2) then bowled excellent line and length medium-pace to a quality Collegians team. The Bay were lively and disciplined in the field.

In Game 1, the Langford-Andrew Scott coached team gifted Onslow White 51 runs in their 30-over tournament opener — a three-wicket loss: by game 6, that half-century of extras had been cut to 21.

Collegians reached 77-8-20 — Fearnley held a great catch on the boundary; Ben Langford held a rocket, one-handed, above his head inside the circle. Langford junior bowled a maiden and conceded only four runs in two overs v Collegians, having taken 1-8-2 against Onslow Green earlier in the day.

Onslow had beaten the Bay by 47 runs, Fearnley having won the toss and chosen to bowl in the first T20 round of the tournament.

Onslow made 128-6-20, both Scott and Leo Starck taking 1-5-2, Holden (1-18-2) and Langford — the Bay’s man of the match — being the other wicket-takers. In reply, Poverty Bay reached 81-8-20: Malsha Mahabalage hit three boundaries in his 35-ball 19 from No.6 and fell with just three balls left in the game.

On Friday, Poverty Bay lost 30-over games to Western Bay of Plenty in the morning and Wanganui that afternoon.

“Nathaniel really troubled our batsmen — lovely run-up, beautiful action and good pace for this age-group,” said Wanganui coach Mark Lithgow. “The Poverty Bay boys had a great attitude and genuine keenness.”

Wanganui made 175-8 batting first. Fearnley (2-10-4) held four catches, while promising paceman Connor Starck (1-5-2) and steady seamer Vinnie Walters (1-7-2) also bowled well.

The Bay’s 139-6 in response featured two superb knocks: a 34 not-out from Poverty Bay’s leading run-scorer at the tournament (86 at an average of 43) Fearnley at No.7, and man of the match Leo Starck’s unbeaten 56-ball 32, including seven boundaries.

Western BOP beat Poverty Bay by 46 runs in defence of 132; Poverty Bay man of the match (and the Bay’s leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at the tournament), Taylor Scott, took 3-13-3 while Phoenix Crosby took 2-3-2 and Jack Holden 2-24-5. Poverty Bay were bowled out for 86 in 25.3 overs.

“These guys were well-mannered, enthusiastic, wanted to learn, wanted to play — it was a pleasure to take them to Riverbend,” said Andrew Scott. “Considering player numbers and the scope to play competitive cricket within Poverty Bay, these guys learned a lot — and won two games.”