Ocean Bartlett. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Captain Kate Sims led the way for the Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus in their four-wicket win over Manawatu in the opening round of the Lower North Island Quad series in Palmerston North on Sunday.
Opening the bowling, Kate Sims had the home side reeling with two wickets in the first over.
She clean-bowled Sarah Power for a golden duck with her fourth ball and then had Nicolene Marx trapped lbw two balls later.
Talented Central Districts age group representative and Manawatu captain Ashtuti Kumar fought a lone battle as wickets fell around her.
Spin bowlers Ocean Bartlett and Macy Lyford applied the pressure picking up two wickets each to have Manawatu 101-8 with 11 overs to bowl.
However, Kumar, who finished on 72 not out, found good support from Ashleigh Hurley [34 not out], with the pair adding 73 runs to set the Korus a solid challenge of 175 off their 40 overs.
Kate and Gemma Sims started the chase cautiously, putting on 38 for the first wicket, before Gemma was bowled by Marx for 14.
After Kate Sims was caught behind by Kumar off the bowling of Gemma Lovewell for 41 with the score at 97-3, there were solid contributions from Bartlett [18] Caitlin Elliott [13], Tahlia Jones-Denness [18no] and Kayarna Jones-Denness [15no] to bring up the victory in the 35th over.
In the other game of the four-team series, Taranaki defeated Wellington A by 25 runs at Palmerston North.
The next round will be played on February 23, with Wairarapa hosting Wellington at Queen Elizabeth Park.
BRIEF SCORES
Manawatu 174 [Ashtuti Kumar 72no, Ashleigh Hurley 34no; Kate Sims 2-38, Ocean Bartlett 2-21, Macy Lyford 2-21] lost to Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus 177-6 [Kate Sims 41; Nicolene Marx 4-37] by four wickets.
Taranaki 175 [Jess Holland 51, Aimee Wishneski 42; Hannah Kells 3-11, Rachel Bryant 3-29] beat Wellington A 150 [Hannah Ryan 37; Amy Foreman 4-17] by 25 runs.
