Cricket: Lakelands claim the spoils in Battle of the Bay

Lakelands Primary cricket team coach Karl McKnight is confident junior cricket is on the improve after his side had comprehensively beaten their Coastland counterparts.

Coastland captain Mikaere Leef won the toss and batted first in the Battle of the Bay.

Lakelands captain Dilan Nanayakkara viewed it as a good toss to lose.

McKnight said for the Northern Districts age group competitions, the Bay of Plenty was split into two areas: Lakelands being Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane/Eastern Bay; and Coastlands being Western Bay including Tauranga and Mt Maunganui, plus the Katikati and Te Puke areas.

The coach said there were three age groups in Northern Districts competitions: Senior Secondary Year 11-13s, Junior Secondary Year 9/10s and Primary Year 7/8s.

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McKnight said his side had warmed up well before the game and ripped into the action right from the start, with opening bowler Juan Nieuwoudt knocking the top off the classy Coastland batting line-up, bowling straight and full.

Juan secured the prize wicket of ND rep Sean Dykes for a golden duck and then ND rep Leef for a duck.

Liam Hori-Clark then came on and bowled with real pace and bounce and secured two great wickets including the only top order batsman to show resistance in Craig Baldry who was caught behind with a rising delivery.

Seamers Juan and Liam were backed up at the other end with tight bowling from spinner Dilan Nanayakkara (2-17) to have Coastlands in absolute disarray at 56-8. A couple of crazy run-outs exemplified the pressure. Some sensible batting from Iman Singh, who top scored with 25, took Coastlands to 98.

The small target of 99 to win wasn't enough, especially once openers Hori-Clark and Adam Schweizer had pretty much seen off opening bowler Kyle Hamilton. Some testing leg spin bowling from Iman, and then quality off spin from Leef kept Lakelands on their toes but a third wicket partnership between wicketkeeper Dylan Macdonald (29 not out), and skipper Nanayakkara (32) blunted the attack.

Ryan Neves then came in to finish the job with Lakelands reaching the target for the loss of three wickets.

BOP Coastlands 98 (Iman Singh 25; Juan Nieuwoudt 3-14, Dilan Nanayakkara 2-17, Liam Hori-Clark 2-25) lost to BOP Lakelands 99-3 (Dilan Nanayakkara 32, Dylan Macdonald 29 not out)

McKnight and manager Phil Tataurangi were thrilled with the progress the team has shown this season and are confident the youngsters can make the jump to the Bay of Plenty junior secondary school level for next season.