Results v Cornwall

We were playing a longer game today, 40 overs, and we asked you to ensure you batted your 40 overs, to maintain your intensity and energy in the field, and to concentrate on positive, aggressive running between the wickets.

Game 1

The Burgundy side had a poor start, and struggled to 70/8 off the first 20 overs. Aside from Ryan Schierhout's composed 32, there was a lack of application in the batting. You were getting yourselves out playing aggressive shots to balls that needed to be treated with more respect. This is a learning experience, if we are getting tied down by good bowling sometimes you need to "knuckle down", bat for time and the runs will come.

At 70/8 we looked in real trouble, and the Coaches asked you (again) to look to bat 40 overs and what followed was an excellent partnership between Asher 42 ret and Adrian 32 (n.o). There was nothing "flashy" about this partnership, the good ball was treated with respect and defended, and the bad ball was worked away for runs. We ended with 158/9 in 40 overs - well done, we batted the 40 overs, and a score of near to 160 gave us a score to defend.

I think we bowled and fielded with good energy. Cornwall batted well, only losing two wickets and the runs came steadily with Cornwall achieving the target in the 34th over. Two of Cornwall's top three batsmen scored 40ret through sensible batting. Some of our ground fielding was poor though - the outfield was a bit bumpy and when it is like that you need to get right in behind the ball.

The energy and effort in the field appeared to be good to the end, and in a final analysis we should accept we were beaten by a better team on the day.

North Harbour Burgundy 158/9 in 40 overs (Ryan Schierhout 32, Asher Robb 42ret, Adrian Young 32)
Cornwall 160/2 in 34 overs. (Jacob Scott, 6ov 2-29, Adrian 4ov, 0-9, Jack Clothier 2ov, 0-1)


Game 2

Again we batted first and the match was very similar to the Burgundy game with five wickets down at drinks for 70 runs. Mitchell Watts (18) and Jonty Hawkins (30n.o) inspired the fight-back with the score ending at 110 all out after 38overs. All the same comments as per the Burgundy game apply......

Defending 110 in 40 overs was going to be a hard ask, and so it proved, with Cornwall passing the target in the 29th over.

There was no lack of effort in the field, again I think we should accept we were beaten by a better team.

Overall then we met most of the match goals we'd set then -batting 40 overs, good energy in the field, and positive running.

North Harbour Black 110 all out in 38 overs. (Mitchell Watts 18, Jonty Hawkins 30n.o)
Cornwall 111/6 in 29 overs (Nathaniel Law, 2ov, 2-18, Mitchell Watts, 2ov, 0-4, Dylan Stevenson 3ov, 0-8)


What to learn from this fixture.....

What I'd like you all to take away is the batting lesson - apply yourselves, concentrate, be patient, play yourselves in, defend the good straight balls, put the bad balls away, get your innings underway by playing the ball into gaps and running positively between the wickets, work hard through any bad periods where you are not hitting the ball well and conserve your wicket, be patient, and the longer time you spend in the middle the more comfortable you will feel and you will begin to build momentum in your innings and the runs will come.......we play Western Districts next Sunday and this will be the message you receive going into the game.

We had some boys unavailable for this fixture, but what it means is that other boys have an opportunity to play their first game for North Harbour. Those boys today were Taine De Alwis, Joshua Simpson, Nick Francis and Liam Wick. Thanks boys, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of you.