Melissa Hansen marshalled her bowlers well in restricting Taranaki. PHOTOS/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Needing just one run to win, the Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus lost their last two wickets to tie with Taranaki in a Lower North Island series match at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth on Sunday.
The result left the Korus in third place in the inaugural 40-overs competition.
Chasing 185 to win, the Korus lost their eighth wicket at 158, only for Olivia Roseingrave and Ella Southey to take them to the brink of victory.
Olivia Roseingrave was caught off the bowling of Kelsey Husband off the last ball of the 39th over, leaving Southey and Gracie Donaldson six balls to score the winning run.
Southey hit the second ball straight to Jordan Bolger at cover, who fed wicketkeeper Natalie Dodd to easily run out Donaldson.
Captain Melissa Hansen provided the backbone of the Korus’ chase, with a patient 76 as wickets fell around her.
When she left, Olivia Clark picked up the responsibility, scoring 24 before she was dismissed with the score at 158.
Korus coach Simon Roseingrave was pleased with the batting effort despite falling short of victory.
“The batting was a bit slow to start with. Mel held it together and was gutted when she didn’t see it through, and then Olivia [Clark] played beautifully, even having the confidence to hit Kate Baxter, a Central Hinds bowler, over mid-off and mid-on for fours,” he said.
“We should’ve won it when we drew level, but we lost patience and a little bit of panic set in and both batters just ran when the ball was hit straight to the fielder.
“But for the nine, 10, and 11 batters to score 26 runs was a good effort when it’s not really their job.”
The result was heartbreak for the Korus who had fought back after Taranaki had made a flying start and looked on for a big score. Dodd [91] and Emily Cunningham [45] put on 111 for the first wicket in 23 overs.
Dodd and Jess Hollard took the score to 160-2, but then the Korus put the brakes on the flow of runs, restricting the home side to just 24 runs off their last six overs.
Simon Roseingrave described the effort in the field as the best of the season. “Even when they put on 111 for the first wicket, we had bowled very well. We didn’t bowl our first wide until about the 20th over,” he said.
“Mel rotated the bowling really well, we were very good in the field, we took all our catches, and it was our best bowling and fielding performance.”
He was pleased with how the competition panned out for the team.
“We blooded a lot of new players and they all stood up. It will make for some interesting selections when all the other players are back next year,” he said.
BRIEF SCORES
Taranaki 184-7 [Natalie Dodd 91, Emily Cunningham 45; Ella Southey 3-15, Olivia Roseingrave 3-29] tied with Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus 184 [Melissa Hansen 76, Olivia Clark 24; Emily Cunningham 4-32].
POINTS
Taranaki 7, Wellington A 4, Wairarapa Korus 3, Manawatu 0.
