HPCC takes the win over North Shore in Jeff Crowe Cup Limited Overs competition
Marie Raos Ray White HPCC captain Bill Walsh won the toss and invited visitors North Shore to bat.
After an early setback with a wicket falling in the second over, North Shore’s top order battled away against a very tight Howick attack with Donovan Grobbelaar, Matt McEwan and Rudi Botadra all capturing early wickets.
Botadra made the key breakthrough when Daniel Young took a good catch to dismiss Ronnie Hira who had looked very solid for 37.
After that it was a matter of time with spinners Adam Jones 3/23, Rowan Naude and Bill Walsh 1/12 all conceding less than 3 runs per over.
McEwan 2/39 and Grobbelaar 2/31 cleaned up the tail. Howick’s fielding was, as always, right on the mark and North Shore was dismissed for 157 in 45 overs.
By the time Howick Pakuranga’s openers arrived at the crease there was a threat of rain in the air so Bill Walsh and Daniel Young tried to settle in but the first wicket fell at 14 when Young was caught off McKenzie.
Newcomer Brian Barnard came in at three and immediately set about scoring at a run a ball.
By the time Walsh was dismissed for 23 the total had reached 69 and after a hiccup when Dale Phillips went for 2, Grobbelaar set about supporting a rampant Barnard with this pair taking the score to 147 before Barnard was caught off Duncraft for 84 scored off 82 balls – and two sixes included in that total.
David Winn joined Grobbelaar and the match ended in a win for the local lads when Winn lifted a full toss into the neighbouring field for a big six.
Howick Pakuranga finished at 162/4 scored in only 33 overs and just beat the rain which came down in buckets about quarter of an hour later.
Currently the Marie Raos Ray White Premier Men are leading their section of the Jeff Crowe Cup.
The Hedley Howarth Two Day Major Championship starts next Saturday with Howick Pakuranga away to East Coast Bays who will present a formidable challenge.
