Torrential weather around Auckland was the winner on Saturday with both Premier Men and Women’s cricket games being abandoned.
During the week, the pitch covers at Birkenhead War Memorial blew off which left the wicket soaking and in no state to play on for the Premier Men, resulting in a draw.
Howick Pakuranga’s Premier Women were meant to play against Papatoetoe but wet and soft run-ups meant that not a single ball was bowled.
Club cricket all across Auckland was called off due to rain, with only a few fixtures going ahead.
Howick Pakuranga’s Premier Men will get their first home game of the season this week on the first day of their two-day fixture against Kumeu Cricket Club and the pitches are in great condition.
Newly appointed premier men’s coach Diederick Kruger has high expectations for his side and is excited to increase the pool of talent throughout the club.
“We will again have a very strong white-ball squad for both the limited overs and T20 competitions. HPCC has won the T20 competition twice in the past four seasons and made the limited overs final in 2021. To achieve this again, a new and very innovative training programme has been introduced that has certainly developed and challenged players through the off-season,” says Kruger.
Kruger has an extensive background in preparing players for high level performance, having worked with professional sports teams in NZ and South Africa for the past 20 years.
For the last five years he was head of physical performance for Auckland Cricket where he worked with both the Auckland Aces and Auckland Hearts players.
“I look forward to a season with no Covid interruptions and the return of two-day cricket,” says Kruger.
Despite the two-day format not being played last season, HPCC was relegated to the minor competition in the 20/21 season.
“The premier men’s team is aiming for a return to the two-day major competition,” Kruger says.
In secondary school cricket, Macleans College will have a chance this weekend to make the 1A schoolboys final.
Macleans will play second place Mount Roskill Grammar on Saturday in which the winner will play in the final against Takapuna Grammar School.
The winner of the 1A competition will be promoted to the schoolboy’s premier grade for the 2023 season.
Premier Men Hedley Howarth Two-Day Competition | Round 2
Cornwall 290 (J Cassidy 70, A Edekar 40; J Kumar 6-82) drew with Eden Roskill 186/7 (M Abbas 59 not out, S Mujtaba 53; M Gibson 3-34, L Wheeler 2-32) after day two of two.
Parnell 363 (A Parikh 91, W Ormiston 90; K Mackenzie 3-84, J Todd 3-116) drew with Auckland University after day two of two.
Papatoetoe 370/9 (B Rowland 203 not out, R Gill 50; S Fernandes 3-50, V Gajjar 3-93) drew with Suburbs New Lynn after day two of two.
Takapuna District 178 (F Goodley-Hollister 40; R Quinn 5-40, T Chitongo 3-26) and 267/6 declared (B Beecroft 92, T Van Ingen-Kal 56 not out; W Clarke 4-78) lost first innings against North Shore 205/2 declared (S Hinds 113 not out, J Moore 59; D James 2-23) and 208/7 (M Olsen 79; P Ruffell 2-17).
Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition | Round 2
Howick Pakuranga 200 (A Lambat 76, J McGregor 55; A Jayampathi 3-29) drew with Birkenhead City 32/1 (L Vimukthi 17 not out; J Brown 1-9) after day two of two.
Ellerslie 203 (H Drillien 92; C Groenink 4-37) and 106 (S Venville 35; L Delport 5-44, R Schierhout 3-10) lost outright to East Coast Bays 272/8 declared (L Delport 101,K Kieser 43; T Leggat 4-97) and 39/1 (L Watson 21 not out; S Edkins 1-14).
Hibiscus Coast 335/8 declared (R Lakmal 98, U Ranaraja 66, J Grobler 65; J Patel 2-28) drew with Kumeu 31/2 (V Azimi 15 not out; R Lakmal 2-1) after day two of two.
Waitakere 139 (S Variath 52; A Ridley 3-32, N Robinson 2-13) and 110 (M Suri 29; N Bhana 4-30, A Ridley 3-27) lost outright to Grafton United 164 (B Chamberlain 36, J Duffy 34; A Kaundal 3-30, P Whynn 3-41) and 86/5 (S Gunawardane 31; S Variath 2-20).
Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition | Round 3
Howick Pakuranga VS Papatoetoe was abandoned due to rain.
Cornwall VS Takapuna District was abandoned due to rain.
Auckland University VS Parnell was abandoned due to rain.
Fixtures 19/11/22
Round 3, Day 1 Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Kumeu CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore Park- 11am
Round 4 Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Takapuna CC Premier Women at Hobsonville Domain- 11am
