Coveted cricket trophy is back in Marlborough

Cricket’s prized Newman Shield is back in Marlborough hands.

The senior rep side returned from Saxton Oval today with the trophy firmly tucked under their arm after notching a six-wicket win over Nelson.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl on a batter-friendly wicket Marlborough showed discipline, perseverance and skill to bowl the home side out for 240 in the 48

th

over.

Opener Jonty Raxworthy, who scored 57 from 74 balls ensured Nelson made a steady start, while a hard-hit 76 from 61 balls from No 6 Harsh Visavadiya provided the later impetus as they registered a moderate yet defendable total.

Nick Weaver, who bagged 2-33 from 7.3 overs, Bailey Andrews-Kennedy, 2-49 from nine, and off spinner Matt Stretch, with 2-22 from six, were the main wicket-takers.

Marlborough’s reply was based around the efforts of opener Chris Bartholomeusz, who batted for 40 overs and scored 77 from 111 balls, ensuring solidarity in the visitors’ innings. He teamed with No 3 Cooper Roberts to put together a 63-run partnership for the second wicket, then joined forces with Andrew McCaa, who ended with an unbeaten 80 from 91 deliveries, to produce a match-winning 107-run third wicket partnership.

Marlborough ended with 244-4, the match concluding with 14 deliveries to be bowled.

Head coach Jarrod Englefield was delighted with the result and the opportunity to grab some much-coveted silverware at the end of a demanding season.

“That’s a great result,” he said.

“We lost the toss on a good wicket and then bowled really well. Joel Pannell, on debut, opened the bowling which was a big ask. He got an early wicket, then we just kept them under pressure in the early stages. Between 30 and 40 overs we got five wickets and pegged them right back … actually we had a chance to bowl them out cheaply but Harsh batted well and they ended up with 240.”

Englefield said all the bowlers deserved praise, as they contributed in different ways.

“Joel Pannell on debut stood up well, Bailey and Nick Weaver both bowled good areas, Sam Boyce was unlucky, Tim Petrie got a key wicket, while offspinners Matt Stretch and Tom Sutherland were outstanding.

“With the bat, we started reasonably slowly but the key was that we didn’t lose wickets.

“Chris Bartholomeusz just hung in there and played some nice cricket shots. He built a valuable partnership with Cooper Roberts and, although there was pressure building regards run rate, once Andrew McCaa came in he re-established the partnership and they never lost their composure.

“Our plan was to take the game deep. We weren’t afraid to get behind the eight ball as long as we built partnerships and went deep into the game. When we got to that position, we were able to finish it off. It was just a bloody good effort.”

Englefield was especially pleased today for debutants Pannell and Tom Leonard, who managed to win the Newman Shield in their first senior rep match.

“A Marlborough v Nelson derby is a pretty big deal so it’s something they will always remember … and I’m happy for the whole group. We just played a good game of cricket today.

“We talked about what we hoped to achieve and, in the end, we pulled it off with ease.”