T20 teams from across Auckland competed for the first time this season for the Martin Guptill Cup, with Harbour emerging victorious. From left, Auckland Cricket Association’s Tony Naidu, Harbour U16 Boys’ captain Dylan Thorley, Harbour U19 Boys’ captain Harrison Ellis, Harbour U14 captain Gisele Naidu with the Cup, Harbour Cricket chair James Ross and Martin Guptill, Blackcap.
Harbour Cricket, with member clubs including Hibiscus Coast, East Coast Bays, Takapuna, North Shore and Birkenhead, has its name on the newly minted Martin Guptill Cup after winning the inaugural competition by a significant margin.
The Martin Guptill Cup (which has already been shortened informally to “Gup Cup”) was contested between Auckland’s five districts – Harbour, Western, Central, Eastern and Manukau – across both boys and girls T20 tournaments, U14 through to U19. The games were played at venues around Auckland, including Metro Park in Millwater. The cup was presented to Harbour Cricket on January 15.
Auckland Cricket Association community cricket manager Tony Naidu says Auckland Cricket is listening to the type of cricket kids want to play, allowing age-group players to emulate their heroes in the shortest form of the game.
“The Martin Guptill Cup is about developing consistency across all districts in both boys and girls cricket and it’s exciting to have someone like ‘Guppy’ on board,” he says.
Harbour were clear winners, with a consistent showing across all the tournaments from early December to mid January. Across the five T20 tournaments, Harbour contested every final, which is an outstanding effort, Tony says.
