Cricket: Numbers stack up against CD U21

Rattle the beads of an abacus and it's amazing how a pixilated picture can assume a sharper resolution of a match that could have had a different result.

The Central Districts under-21 women lost their opening match by 38 runs to Auckland yesterday in Christchurch.

How could that match have been an upset victory to stop the dominance of the city slickers who are consecutive four-time defending champions?

Together, one set of figures on the CD innings barks like a rabid dog - the figures of the top three batsmen.

Chasing Auckland's 240-5 in 50 overs, the Sonya Thompson-captained CD managed 202-8 in as many overs.

Openers Sarah Cowan, Thompson and No3 Anlo van de Venter between them scored 76 runs, but add up the balls and you'll find they faced 186 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

Had Cowan (45 runs/95 balls), Thompson (14/45) and Van de Venter (17/46) ticked the strike over a little more, CD would have celebrated as giant killers.

That is, it seems, the sort of analysis some would expect from what is effectively a platform for development and isolating prospective CD Hinds for the senior Action Sports domestic level of competition.

No doubt, at the risk of chasing perfection, wiping out 32 extras - 3 byes, 10 leg byes and 19 wides - would have definitely helped the cause and taken some pressure off the batsmen.

Hinds batsman Kelly Rangi shone again, she was unbeaten on 67 from 54 balls, including six boundaries, at No5 to show she's got a better grip on the handle in working her way towards becoming an opener.

An athletic but unrequired wicketkeeper, Rangi had a strike rate of 124.1 per cent yesterday and also bowled five wicket-less off-spin overs for 28 runs. Taranaki's Kate Baxter and Cowan took two wickets each, going for more than five runs an over.

Lanky Manawatu teenage Hinds bowler Hannah Rowe was the most frugal with 29-1 from 10, including three maidens.

While all other teams have New Zealand Emerging players in their line-up, the CD Under-21 side have enigmatically left out left-armer Maneka Singh, 16, this summer despite sufficient evidence she could have done with some bowling and batting time.