Rain proves difference in close match

DEBUTANTE: Nga Tawa Year 9 school girl Tessa Strang bowls to Hawkes Bay and Central Hinds opener Kelly Rangi. Wicketkeeper is Jess Watkin.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Duckworth Lewis came out to play in the rain-affected match between Anndion Lodge Wanganui Women and Hawkes Bay Senior Women at Victoria Park at the weekend.

Wanganui lost by 1 wicket at Tasman Tanning Park No1 after the rain came down and the Duckworth Lewis system amended the score in the shortened game.

The team will rue lost opportunities but the ladies are highly motivated to progress their game. The team comprised a good mixture of youth and the stalwarts of Michelle Mitchell and Jess Watkin. Year 9 players Tessa Strang and Rebecca Baker made their debut for the Anndion Wanganui side.

Watkin again showed why she is often voted Most Valuable Player by top scoring for Wanganui with a knock of 62 before taking 4 wickets for just 25 runs during her seven overs.

Meanwhile, The Watsons U17 Whanganui side had a good build-up to their Central Districts age group tournament in Napier by beating Manawatu in the warm-up game.

However, they were soon brought right down to earth with a seven-wicket loss to Nelson on the first day of the representative tournament in Napier on Monday.

Whanganui was sent in to bat and were bowled out for 44 runs in 14.1 overs. Nelson took just 13.4 overs to score 46 runs and take the match.

In stark contrast, The Watsons U15 team had an outright win over Marlborough on the first day of their age group tournament in Levin, before tackling Nelson yesterday for a spot in the Central Districts U15 two-day final. The match was close, but undecided by Chronicle deadline yesterday.

During a busy weekend of cricket, The Watsons U13s played Wairarapa and enjoyed a comprehensive win.

Whanganui's decision to bowl proved fruitful, skittling Wairarapa for 93 in 36 overs.

Tomasi Conner was the pick of the bowlers with 4-10 off 5. James Craig took 3 for 8 off 5 and Harry Godfrey 2-5 off 3.

The opening batting partnership of Joel Clark (39 not out) and William Hocquard (16) amassed 55 before Adam Lennox (27) joined Clark to score the winning runs in the 15th over.

The Watsons U12s played Wairarapa at Springvale and, after winning the toss, decided to bat first.

After a poor start, Whanganui found themselves 5-40 after 15 overs. Carter Hobbs and Zane Munn then put their heads down and got Whanganui back on track. A 46-run partnership was cut short when Hobbs was run out for 12.

Munn then went two balls later for 26 as Whanganui started to look for quick runs. Daniel Taylor and Blake Hoskins swung the bat well and got the side through to 128/7 off 35 overs.

Taylor scored 15 not out and Hoskins 21 not out. Whanganui started well in the field with a good spell from Adam Beard, 6 overs 1-20, and Andrew Dickson, 6 overs 0-23. But wickets were hard to come by and Wairarapa was always slightly ahead of the game. Sean O'leary was the best bowler with 2-18 off 4.5 overs and also caught an outstanding catch. A close game, but Whanganui lost by 4 wickets in the final over.