Saturday 26 October 2024
Takapuna Grammar – 67 all out in 33.4 overs
King’s College – 70/0 in 6.4 overs
Sitting at the bottom of the table, Takapuna were given no respite from a well-drilled King’s unit who were keen to wrap up the game quickly under threatening skies. In a fairly similar outcome to when these two teams met in March this year, Takapuna struggled to score and was dismissed for three runs less than in the first meeting. The big difference this time is that King’s took exactly 14 fewer overs in securing victory. Batting with Francis Kirkland (Year 13, Selwyn), Thomas Nelson (Year 12, Marsden) continued with the positive approach that he displayed last week against Auckland Grammar and these two openers rubbed salt into the gaping Takapuna wound by dismantling their bowlers, racing to the 68 run target in 6.4 overs, via 11 boundaries. This was the quickest victory by a team batting second against Takapuna this season. King’s fielding improved from the previous week, with no spilled catches. Tom Boucher (Year 12, Greenbank) took three of them.
When Takapuna won the toss and batted, it was obvious that their approach would be the same as they’ve done all season – crease occupancy and use up as many overs as possible. With the possibility of rain being an issue, King’s opening pair of Tim Hamilton (Year 13, Marsden) and Finn Priddy (Year 13, Marsden) went in search of early wickets. Priddy got into a good rhythm and, running in from the Rangitoto Island end, picked up two wickets in his first spell to finish on 5-1-2-8, with only three runs coming off the bat – a fiery spell. Nelson replaced Priddy and his nagging accuracy gave Takapuna no chance to relax and build any respectable partnership. The spinners, Aekkam Sarao (Year 11, Averill) and Joel Gardner (Year 12, St John’s), were used sparingly, bowling just seven over between them before the skipper Morgan Tapper (Year 13, St John’s) recalled his pace bowlers in the 24th over with Takapuna listing at 48/5. Hamilton picked up two wickets in his second spell, Priddy did the same, and at 67/9, both were out of overs. Nelson was reintroduced due to his accuracy, and he secured the final wicket with his fourth ball of the 34th over to secure King’s biggest margin of victory in the competition this season.
Next week we host top-of-the-table Westlake Boys High School.
King's win by 10 wickets.
Batting:
| T Nelson | 27* (23) | F Kirkland | 36* (18) |
DNB: S Singh, M Tapper, T Boucher, J Hernon, A Sarao, S Bamford, J Gardner, T Hamilton, F Priddy.
Bowling:
| T Hamilton | 10-2-23-2 | F Priddy | 10-2-18-4 |
| T Nelson | 6.4-1-8-2 | J Gardner | 3-0-11-1 |
| A Sarao | 4-1-6-1 |