Olivia Clark opening for CD against Wellington on Tuesday. PHOTO/IAIN HYNDMAN
CRICKET
Wairarapa’s Macy Lyford scored an unbeaten 61 runs as she helped Central Districts to a winning start in their national Under-15 girls cricket campaign in Whanganui on Tuesday.
CD won the 30-over match by 29 runs after racking up 191 runs for the loss of three wickets batting first. Wellington replied with 162-4.
Wairarapa’s Emma McLeod, Charlize Carson-Butler and Olivia Clark also featured in the CD side who started the first-round match at Victoria Park.
The side is coached by Whanganui-based White Fern, Jess Watkins.
Lyford was in fine form, scoring her runs off 57 balls before she was retired.
Clark opened the innings, scoring 12 before being caught.
Macy scored three runs before being bowled while hitting out in the 26th over.
Carson-Butler took one wicket in conceding 23 runs in her four overs.
Cricket Whanganui general manager Dilan Raj said that while the tournament was competitive with each side striving to win, the main aim was still to upskill the girls and groom them to advance through the grades, ultimately to the highest level, the White Ferns.
Central Districts were next to play Auckland and a Christchurch side yesterday, and Northern Districts and Otago today. Finals day is tomorrow.
Brief scores
Wairarapa 191-3 [M Lyford 61 rtd, J Hollard 56 rtd, M Williams 2-6] bt Wellington 162-4 [J Mason-Jones 52 rtd, R Bryant 29, H Ryan 26no, A Apperley 1-23, C Carson-Butler 1-23] by 29 runs.
