Bowling 60 balls while still feeling the effects of a groin injury didn't stop Jason Morgan from nailing four wickets as Maungakaramea claimed the Lion Red Trophy.
After having been out for a month with a groin injury, Morgan dismissed four Kaipara Flats batsmen at the Cobham Oval yesterday -helping his side roll Kaipara for 130 in the one-day final.
Maungakaramea captain Neal Parlane said Morgan showed courage to bowl 10 overs on the trot after having not played or trained for weeks.
"Morgan's opening spell was outstanding, [especially] for a guy who hasn't bowled an over for a month," he said, adding that himself and Morgan didn't play in Saturday's win over Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys' High School in the final round robin match.
However, it wasn't all one-way traffic as Maungakaramea had a nervous chase. With only 14 runs needed, the wheels started to fall off as Kaipara picked up two quick wickets to leave Maungakaramea teetering with eight wickets down.
But, eventually Cody Andrews would whack a few big hits to put the game beyond doubt.
"Batting wise for us we never got a good partnership," Parlane said.
"We threatened, and then lost a wicket or two ... even with 14 runs to win we had four wickets in hand and let it slip. It was nervous times on the sideline.
"It was a good hard fought final that see-sawed back and forward, there was times where both teams were in control."
Parlane noted that Josh Lee picked up three wickets.
The win means Maungakaramea have locked away three out of the four trophies in Northland cricket for the winter, with only the Twenty20 competition, won by Kaipara, evading them.
