v Cornwall, results

Hi Boys

We came up against a couple of good Cornwall teams today and shared the honours with them, a reasonable result over-all.

It is a good experience for you to be playing away at a different location - I hope you enjoyed it, and Melville Park was a nice setting to play cricket - many thanks to Cornwall.

Before the matches we talked about working on a few of the things we learnt from the Manukau game - turning the strike over, backing up and running positively, being positive and alert in the field, pitching the ball up and on one side of the wicket.

I think we improved in some area's and slipped in others.

Burgundy
Burgundy was playing the stronger of the two Cornwall teams. In the Burgundy game Cornwall bowled first, and bowled well - at good pace with movement and accuracy. We were under pressure early and lost wickets regularly right through-out the innings. The run rate was good though, but the loss of wickets proved costly as we didn't have enough wickets in hand to attack over the last several overs and worse still we were bowled out in the 32nd over. We've talked before about batting through the innings...

Jack Clothier, Ryan S and Keegan top-scored with 20 (23), 19 (19), and 15 (27) respectively. Many of you got a start, but couldn't push on. We only had one partnership of significance. We need to aim to have one or two boys scoring 40ret in the games and put together good partnerships through-out the innings.

We posted, on this wicket, a lowish score of 140 which was defensible if we bowled and fielded well. Unfortunately, we did neither well. We appeared flat in the field, and some of the senior players in particular need to step up and provide more "talk" and positive support in the field. The wicket-keeper needs to be the centre of the fielding effort, and be vocal and positive.

As we weren't alert, we missed a couple of catches we should have taken. Catches change games.

As with the game against Manukau, the bowling was too loose - and against quality batsmen like the Cornwall boys you're going to be punished for short bowling or bowling down leg-side.

Cornwall comfortably reached the score of 142/3 in the 29th over. Ryan Q bowled well, 5ov, 0-12, as did Angus with 4ov, 0-7.

Angus also did a good job with the Captaincy today.

So, while there is significant amount to work on we also need to remember that we came up against very good opposition today, and you can only play as well as your opposition lets you. Cornwall is traditionally one of the strongest Clubs in Auckland with over 1,000 Juniors and these boys have the benefit of playing in the Auckland Premier Year 6 competition where they are playing good competitive cricket every Saturday week in week out. The Cornwall teams are doing very well this year in that competition, and they deserve congratulations for their good performance and well earned win today. And to put in in perspective, one Yr 6 team also had a loss against Cornwall last year. All going well, we may see them for a re-match in the New Year.

Finally, I am pleased again to say that I saw other good examples of sportsmanship from you today - well done.

North Harbour Burgundy 140 all out in 32 overs
Cornwall A 142/3 in 29 overs.

A good win to Cornwall by 7 wickets.


Black
As with Burgundy we staggered through-out the innings losing wickets reasonably regularly until we reached 120/9 in 35 overs, not enough runs but something to defend. We benefited from some 50 extra's in the innings. Adrian's batting was the anchor for the innings, scoring 27 (74). William and Jonty contributed 14 (27) and 13 (59) respectively. We lacked 40's and partnerships.

And this is where the Burgundy and Black games depart.

Black were positive in the field from the first ball and there was good talk and energy. Our opening bowlers Adrian and Grant did a good job, bowling fast and accurately. Grant was rewarded with figures of 3overs, 2-2. Liam later followed that up with 2overs, 2-4, and William 2overs, 2-11. Some of the other bowling was tight, Jacob, 3overs, 1-3, Travis, 2 overs 1-1.

Of course, it helps to be taking wickets to get a good vibe in the field, but I also saw a couple of very good catches in the field - one in particular from Jonty, and these moments can make all the difference.

The Cornwall batting was possibly not as good as the Cornwall batting in the Burgundy game, but you still bowled well and with good accuracy. The result of this good positive attitude, taking your chances, and bowling accurately was that you bowled out Cornwall for just 83, and you ended up with a well deserved win.

North Harbour Black 120/9 in 35 overs
Cornwall B 83 all out.

A win to North Harbour Black.

Well done team.

As always thanks to team coaches for the day Peter and Daryl, and Layne. The scorers - Matt Hawkins, Peter Robb, and Richard Clothier, and to the umpires Grant McKenzie, Daryl and Bill and to anyone else I've left out.