PNBHS NEWS

SUPER 8 CRICKET

 
Picture of Ella Mitchell
SUPER 8 CRICKET
by Ella Mitchell - Monday, 27 January 2020, 10:15 AM
 

SUPER 8 CRICKET 

Day 1 - PNBHS 1st XI VS Napier Boys’ High School 1st XI - 20/01/20

Having lost the toss and been asked to field, the PNBHS bowlers started inauspiciously, gifting the opposition runs with wayward deliveries. This allowed Napier to get off to a good start, scoring 70 for 1 by the first drinks’ break. Some inspirational words from the coach at the break served as motivation for the team and they redoubled their efforts to good effect. 2 wickets fell soon after the break and PNBHS continued to dry up the runs and break partnerships. The bowlers’ accuracy was backed up with good fielding and secure catching to have the opposition all out for 148 in the 48th over. Charlie Lourie took 2 for 41, Josh Campbell 2 for 8 and Thomas Kirk 3 for 25.

The batting innings started steadily, with runs coming easily and both openers seemingly untroubled. When the openers fell in the 14th and 16th overs, the run-rate remained steady and even accelerated with the batsmen taking a heavy toll on any loose bowling. PNBHS passed Napier’s score in the 34th over to finish on 152 for 2. Lachie Bradford scored 20, Josh Campbell 21, Jaiden Meyer 34 not out and Curtis Heaphy 46 not out in a comfortable 8 wicket win.

On Tuesday, the team takes on New Plymouth Boys’ High’s 2nd XI from 10:30 at Lynmouth Park.

Pictured below: Angus Lyver and Charlie Lourie receiving their caps from coach Mr S. Davidson. 

Day 2 - PNBHS 1st XI VS New Plymouth Boys’ High School 2nd XI - 21/01/20:

With this fixture being a friendly game, the teams had pre-arranged that PNBHS would bat first at Lynmouth Park.
This backfired to a certain extent when the groundsmen overwatered the pitch overnight and the PNBHS batsmen were faced with the proverbial “sticky wicket”. The openers did well, however, weathering the first 10 overs. It did prove difficult to score runs, though with most deliveries “popping” off a length, but the odd one shooting through at shin height. A revised batting order was determined to make the most of the situation, though, and a good innings was built with some inventive shot-making and good running. The team made a good fist of it and finished on 205 all out in 47.2 overs. Thomas Kirk scored 22, Curtis Heaphy 28 not out, Jonty Fleck 34 and Josh Campbell 57.

The Palmerston North Boys’ High School attack proved to be a handful on the wicket, even though it had flattened out after baking in the sun. The New Plymouth opening batsmen struggled to get bat on ball as they were beaten time and again. Captain Heaphy rotated his bowlers in short spells and they responded well, taking regular scalps while being miserly with runs conceded. New Plymouth’s resistance took the form of survival and occupying the crease, rather than compiling runs, but the team stayed patient and were rewarded when the opposition succumbed for 68 in the 39th over. Most bowlers took wickets with the most successful being Charlie Lourie, who took 2 for 12 and Josh Campbell who took 3 for 20.

Tomorrow the team takes on Hamilton Boys’ High’s 1st XI in a virtual semi-final at Western Park from 10:30am.

Day 3: PNBHS 1st XI VS Hamilton Boys’ High School 1st XI - 22/01/20

Curtis Heaphy won the toss and promptly elected to bat on a dry and dusty-looking Western Park pitch. As expected, scoring proved to be difficult as Hamilton turned to an almost exclusively spin attack. With stroke-making being virtually impossible, the batsmen stuck to their task and made the most of running between the wickets and putting the rare bad ball away. Some mature batting by Heaphy, Love and Fleck kept the scoreboard ticking, allowing the team to launch in the final 6 overs to reach 167 for 7 (A competitive total on this pitch). Curtis Heaphy scored 52.

The idea of defending the total was all-but wiped out in the first 20 overs as the PNBHS bowlers bowled too short and wide, allowing the Hamilton batsmen to access the short square boundaries. The wicket of the opposition’s leading batsman breathed some life into the effort in the field as he had scored 80% of their runs and the bowlers managed to bowl some tight overs. Unfortunately, 3 dropped catches at this stage put paid to the comeback and Hamilton managed to pass the score with 4 down in the 49th over.

Unfortunately, this means that we will be playing off for 3rd and 4th place against New Plymouth Boys’ High School 1st XI at Western Park starting at 10 AM.

Cricket Report - Super 8 Day 4 - PNBHS 1st XI VS New Plymouth Boys’ High School 1st XI - 23/01/20

The playoff for 3rd and 4th took the team back to Western Park where Curtis Heaphy won the toss and chose to bat first. The top order once again made a steady start against some tight bowling and fielding and at 90 for 3 after the 30th over, honours were even. There followed a flurry of wickets, as the middle order tried to accelerate the scoring. This necessitated a rebuild, led by the captain and the lower order, followed by some lusty blows, taking PNBHS to 188 for 9 from their 50 overs. Thomas Kirk scored a quick 25, Josh Campbell 36 and Curtis Heaphy 57 not out, to leave the team in a strong position at the break.

The malaise of the week struck again in the early overs, with the bowlers struggling to find their areas. This allowed the opposition’s premier batsman to get off to a flyer, scoring 80 of their team’s first 120 runs. After he got out, all the rest of the team had to do was score at 2.3 per over. The PNBHS bowlers did a good job to “put the squeeze” on and pick up 7 wickets, but New Plymouth passed the score in the 46th over. Regan Fleming took 2 for 37.

Ultimately, this left the team in 4th place, but there are some promising signs for the rest of the year. Curtis Heaphy was named as The Batsman of the Tournament (Highest run aggregate), scoring 155 runs in the 3 competitive matches, at an average of 155.