A top-order batting capitulation chasing a small total on Sunday perfectly summed up the Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus season.
The Korus had given themselves a solid chance of finishing their Shrimpton Trophy campaign on a high after dismissing Manawatū for 105 in their rain-shortened 33-over-a-side match at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval, but a batting collapse where they lost their first six wickets for only 19 runs ended any realistic chance of a win.
Some solid lower-order resistance led by wicketkeeper Sally Booth, who was unbeaten on 25, added some respectability to the effort, but the task was too challenging, and the Korus fell 22 runs short of victory.
The failure to play forward on the flat Oval pitch proved costly for the top order, with the first three wickets falling trapped in front LBW while another was bowled, adding to the frustrating season for coach Simon Roseingrave.
“It was indicative of the season. It was unfortunate because that was the strongest top order that we’ve had for a while, and for them to roll through us like that was disappointing,” Roseingrave said.
“We’ve really undersold ourselves with the bat this season. We’ve been competitive with the ball and in the field, but there seems to be a malaise through the batting, and I can’t quite put my finger on it because even some players who have made some runs outside of the environment come back in and join in the steady loss of wickets.”
Central Hinds opening batter Georgia Atkinson and all-rounder Ocean Bartlett were among those to fail with the bat, although Rosiengrave had some sympathy for Bartlett, who has had limited opportunities.
“Even our players who are getting selected at higher levels, some of them aren’t really getting any cricket, and I reference Ocean here, and I don’t think Ocean has had a decent bat in the middle for eight to 10 weeks, and how do you expect to perform when you’re simply going along to net practice and don’t get any time to put your skills to the test.”
Roseingrwave was full of praise, though, for 16-year-old Booth, who he said “batted beautifully.”
“It was like a real click moment for Sally. It was a real confidence boost in terms of her belonging at that level, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. There are three or four of those 15–16-year-olds who could go quite a way, and Sally is one of them. I think that will be the kickstart for Sally to grow in confidence.
“She also stumped the two Hinds players [Mikaela Greig and Ashtuti Kumar] in the Manawatu side, so big kudos for her keeping as well.”
A positive was the Korus bowling and fielding effort, which at one stage had Manawatū struggling at 36–5 before a sixth-wicket stand of 61 runs between Gemma Lovewell [33] and Bridie Mcfadzean [12] gave the visitors a below-par but ultimately defendable total.
Bartlett and Olivia Roseingrave picked up three wickets each, while Atkinson snared 2–12 off a miserly seven overs.
The Korus finished the Shrimpton Trophy, Central Districts’ premier women’s championship, fourth of the teams, with their only two wins coming against Nelson.
BRIEF SCORES
Manawatū 105 [Gemma Lovewell 33; Ocean Bartlett 3-28, Olivia Roseingrave 3-21, Georgia Atkinson 2-12] beat Wairarapa Korus 84 [Sally Booth 25no; Lovewell 3-20, Ashtuti Kumar 3-14, Penny Lovegrove 2-9]
