CRICKET
Wairarapa’s Emma McLeod was to the fore again as New Zealand cruised to a 103-run victory over Pakistan and a place in the semifinals of the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The 16-year-old again showed she is adept in the opening role, smashing 32 runs from 18 balls, including four fours and one six, giving New Zealand a rollicking start after being asked to bat first on a slow pitch in Potchefstroom.
When McLeod was the first wicket to fall, she and Anna Browning had put on 47 in just 4.5 overs.
McLeod’s effort follows her 57 against Rwanda on Saturday, and she has now scored 89 runs at a strike rate of 177.77 in only two turns at bat in the tournament.
New Zealand’s top scorer was number three Georgia Plummer, who scored 53 from 58 balls, while Browning hit 31 from 25 balls, in their total of 178-7.
Pakistan never recovered from losing their first wicket on the first ball of their innings. At one stage, they fell to 5-19 before a mini recovery to finish 75-7.
New Zealand are likely to play India or Australia in the semifinals, although Bangladesh could replace Australia with a big win over UAE.
England will relegate New Zealand to second in their group with a win over the West Indies in their final game.
Winning run continues
BOWLS: The Martinborough Bowling Club continued on their winning way, taking victory in last weekend’s Rosewood Funeral Home Wairarapa Women’s Open Triples at Masterton.
The combination of Tanya Wheeler, Janalle Frew and Mary-Anne Wilson were one of only three teams to qualify for Sunday’s post-section play. The Martinborough trio had a 19-6 semifinal victory over Dale Lloyd-Stanton, Dianne Haswell, and Deb Savern, to set up a final against the Masterton team of Judith Wyeth, Wendy Mitchell, and Tina Hogg.
In a closely fought final, the Wheeler-skipped trio pulled away for a 20-13 win.
Strong displays
FOOTBALL: Wairarapa had a strong hand in two victories at the annual Maori football Aotearoa North vs South matches
played recently in Auckland.
Arnon Tapp, previously from Wairarapa, coached the Under-18 boys South team, and local player Jarden French was a team member in the side, which includes the Wellington region.
South won the match 1-0, the same score registered by the South Under-18 girls’ team, coached by Wairarapa United women’s coach Radha McGlashan.
