CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
[email protected],nz
A remarkable double century partnership and a hat-trick were the catalysts behind the Wairarapa College First XI’s 170-run victory in their traditional fixture with Horowhenua College at Donnelly Park, Levin.
Batting heroes Oliver Bunny and Jake Young came together with their team in some trouble at 37-2.
Right from the start, the pair showed their intent to play their shots and put pressure on the fielding with quick running between the wickets.
So dominant were Bunny and Young that when the partnership ended in the 42nd over, with Bunny run out for 130, they had had scored an incredible 215 runs in 32 overs.
It took Bunny 81 matches to finally break through the mental barrier and score his first hundred. His 130 came from just 123 balls and included 17 fours and one six.
Young also played a superb knock under pressure and was dismissed for 85 [including seven fours] from 96 balls. His aggressive running was a significant factor in the partnership.
After Young’s dismissal in the 45th over, the wickets fell regularly. Waicol were in danger of being bowled out until Caleb Anstis [nine not out] and Zac Te Maro [12 not out] resurrected the innings with some quick-fire runs to take their team to an impressive 304-9 from their 50 overs.
With the ball, Bhulvhai Taua struck early, with his extreme pace proving too much for Horowhenua College opener, B Collings.
An attacking second wicket partnership gave Horowhenua College some hope as they raced to 65-1 in just nine overs.
But Anstis produced the goods in the first three balls of the 10th over. A caught behind, an lbw and then a bowled gave Anstis a rare hat-trick. He finished with 3-18 off his six overs.
Horowhenua dangerman Hamish Patel was still at the crease and it took a direct hit from Felix Stephens to run him out for 45, which came off only 26 balls.
Stephens and Te Maro picked up two wickets each before Perry Lewis ended the game with an lbw in his first over.
Horowhenua College crumbled after the 25-over drinks break losing 5-12, to be all out for 134.
Wairarapa College coach Alastair Payne said: “It was a brilliant way to finish term one and will give the team a lot of confidence going into the second part of the season in term four.”
Wairarapa College finished the summer in third place in the Wellington Secondary School Premier 2 Grade, with four wins and three losses.
BRIEF SCORES
Wairarapa College 304-9 [O Bunny 130, J Young 85, S Anderson 3-35] beat Horowhenua College 134 [H Patel 45, C Anstis 3-18, Z Te Maro 2-6, F Stephens 2-15] by 170 runs.
