Howzat! A weekend of winning for Northcote cricketers!
WINNING WEEKEND FOR NORTHCOTE CRICKETERS!
Northcote cricketers scored a fabulous 3 wins from 3 matches over the weekend. Here’s the highlights.
1st XI – 149-run win over Pakuranga College. Spin bowler Tanmay Ghai treated us to a masterclass in bowling – taking an incredible 8 wickets in 8 overs – conceding only 19 runs! Assistant Director of Sport Paul Hewson says it’s the best figures for a 1st XI bowler that he can recall in his decades at Northcote.
2nd XI – A thrilling game ending in a 1-wicket victory vs Rosmini college 3rd XI, despite being a man down and fielding only 10 players.
Junior Open - took on Westlake Colts Red A and came away with a 57 run win – their third victory in row!
Great work lads!
FULL MATCH REPORTS (Thanks Mr Hewson!)
1ST XI - the 1st XI hosted Pakuranga College 1st XI at Northcote, looking to bounce back from the previous week's narrow loss to Long Bay College 1st XI.
Pakuranga won the toss and put Northcote into bat. Het Baraiya (11KAY) was promoted to open in order to get off to a faster start, and he delivered in spades with a blistering 54 off only 45 balls, including 4 sixes. He had very good support from Liam Duggan (11KIM) who made 21 in a partnership of 65 with Het. At 93-3 when both were dismissed the innings was in the balance. But up stepped captain Luca Ninzigamiye (13MFL) and Luke Buckley (13MH) with a sizzling partnership of 149 that saw Northcote seize control. Both passed 50 for the first time for the 1st XI. Luca made a superb 93 off 61 balls, including 7 sixes, and Luke 55 off 60 balls with 3 sixes. Northcote's total of 273-7 off 40 overs looked formidable.
However Pakuranga looked good early on, and at 69 without loss had an excellent base. However, up stepped Northcote's second spin bowler Tanmay Ghai (12STG). Tanmay missed the start of the season due to a late return from India and had largely played 2nd XI. He quickly claimed both openers and went on to take an incredible 8 for 19 off 8 overs, the best figures for a bowler in the 1st XI that I can remember in my time here. A superb spell that saw Pakuranga bowled out for 124 off 28.1 overs, and a 149 run win for the 1st XI.
A special day for a very modest, and quiet player who has patiently waited for his chance and then seized it.
2ND XI - after some very tough games the 2nds felt they were in with a real chance against Rosmini College 3rd XI at Vauxhall Road in Devonport, despite a late withdrawal leaving them with only 10 players.
Rosmini won the toss and batted, but were soon in strife as all the Northcote bowlers stuck to their plans with great discipline. Captain Hayaan Jamaludeen (11KAY) lead the way with 3 for 17 off 6 overs, and had great support from Clark Wilson (11KAY) 2 for 4 off 2.2 overs, having earlier taken 3 catches as wicketkeeper, Jesse Aplin (10CE) 2 for 25 off 4 overs, Tushan Dissanayake (12HO) 1 for 5 off 4 overs, Nate Donnell (9YI) 1 for 12 off 4 overs and Yenul Vithanage (9YU) 1 for 10 off 3 overs. Rosmini were dismissed for 84 off 25.2 overs.
The target of 85 looked straightforward and at 36 for 1 with Tushan Dissanayake (12HO) on 23 and looking very good, the game looked well in hand. However wickets fell regularly after this, and at 69 for 8 with the last pair at the crease, it looked as though defeat had been snatched from the jaws of victory.
But the last pair, youngsters Jesse Aplin (10CE) 14 not out and Vinuth Visman Acharige (9YU) 5 not out had other ideas, and calmly scored the last 16 runs needed to seal a thrilling 1 wicket victory, the team's first of the season. 85 for 8 off 31.1 overs has never looked like a better score.
JUNIOR OPEN - took on Westlake Colts Red, at Bay City Park looking for their 3rd win a row, with 2nd place in the pool on the line. Like the other two Northcote teams they lost the toss and were put into bat. The team showed great discipline in following Coach Zac Chapman's main instruction "bat your 40 overs". They did this making 189 for 4 with captain Luke Fujisato Moore (10SVR) starring with a superb 64 off 103 balls. He had great support from Rory Duggan (9MCI) 23, Lauchlan McRae (9WL) 17 and Myan Nithi (9GRI) 10 not out.
Westlake never seriously challenged this total as all the bowlers showed great control and discipline. Leg spinner Lauchlan McRae (9WL) with 4 for 19 off 8 overs and Rory Duggan 3 for 10 off overs were superb, and Caelan Scott (10LEE) also had a great spell, 1 for 19 off 7 overs. Fittingly captain Luke Fujsato Moore took the last wicket as Westlake were bowled out for 132 off 32.5 overs. A 57 run win.