Northerners dominate cricket series
Former Northern Districts player Adil Somani sends down another delivery for the North side while South skipper Andrew Hore, a former Otago rep, looks on. Photos Peter Jones.
The North Island emphatically claimed boasting rights in NZ over-50s cricketing ranks with a 3-0 clean sweep against their South Island counterparts at Horton Park over the weekend.
The three-game series began on Friday, albeit delayed by a wet outfield. Game one was reduced to 35-overs aside and turned into a low-scoring affair on a slow wicket.
Batting first, South made their way to 147 before being dismissed in the 32ndover. Local stalwart Greg Stretch top-scored with a well-constructed 42 from 44 balls, but his side’s total was never going to be enough against the powerful northerners, who managed to reach 148-6 in the 33rd over, winning by four wickets.
Leading the way was opener Colin Owens (30 from 55) and Bert Horner (53 from 65), both of whom batted patiently and sensibly, while Ben Homan with 3-32 was the pick of the Mainland attack.
The pitch had dried out for the second day and again South batted first. This time they managed a more competitive total, amassing 253-4 from 45 overs. Their total was based around a 154-run opening partnership between captain Andrew Hore (66 from 91) and John Garry (77 from 109). Stretch chipped in with a run-a-ball 30 and fellow Marlborough man Mason Robinson added 31 from 23 to give their bowlers something to bowl at.
Despite losing an early wicket, North produced a superb second wicket partnership of 152 to set up a successful run chase.
Opener Owens was narrowly denied a century, run out for 95 from 102 runs, while Damien Grant scored 39 from 46, to wrap up the series, their target reached in the 43rdover.
Sunday’s final clash was reduced to 40 overs, with the northerners prevailing by eight wickets.
South again batted first, reaching 176-9 from their complement of overs. Top scorer was Nathan Gestro with 29 from 48 while former Marlborough keeper Colin Wood added 20 from 29. Craig Foster claimed 3-33 from eight.
An opening partnership of 132 between Rajeev Rajagopal (78 not out from 107) and Foster (66 from 57) ensured North had few problems in the run chase, the match ending in the 34th over.
The series acts as a trial for national Over-50 and A team selection with some international clashes on the horizon.