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The Kaipara Flats Premiers overcame a challenging season with a series of injuries, taking out the 50 over Lion Red Cup in the Northland competition last month.
Kaipara fried Maungakaramea in 30-degree heat at the Cobham Oval in Whangarei. It was sweet relief for club captain Liam Jones, who has played in the final for the last seven years in a row and finally clinched victory.
It started with a stroke of luck when Kaipara won the toss – for the first time in five finals – and went in to bat first and pushed the score up to 299.
“Our strength is in bowling, so setting them a tough chase meant we were really able to put pressure on them towards the end,” Jones says.
Opening batsmen Jack Beaven and Rhys Jones made 111 runs and 89 runs respectively, and had 180 across their partnership.
“It was only Rhys’ his third time opening the batting for Kaipara – the younger boys really stepped up this season.”
The Kaipara prems suffered five injuries over the season, significantly changing the side’s line-up. This was reflected in the Northland T20. The team came bottom of the standings tables after struggling to field players.
However, winning the one-day match means the young side has qualified to play against the top teams of the Northern Districts in a bid to make it to nationals. Jones says they are riding that high into the Oxford Trust two-day competition, which started last month. Kaipara has won the comp for the last two years.
“We have the perfect opportunity to do a double and win both competitions, one of them for the third year in a row.”
Meanwhile, the Whangateau Rams won the T20 Waitemata Cup in a final against Wellsford in the Rodney Cricket Association competition, last month.
Wellsford went into bat first and were restricted at 121, all out. The Rams were able to catch them at 122 in 11 overs. Brothers Ray and Shaun Beamish are both at the top of the Rodney batting leader boards this season and came through for the Rams with 78 runs between them. The Rams have benefited from Shaun returning to the team after dropping from premier grade.
The team has had a great season, winning seven out of their eight games in the Rodney T20.
Wellsford has also seen its fortunes rise with a number of former Otamatea players joining its ranks, bolstering talent and numbers.
Wellsford is currently at the top of the standings tables in the 40 over Rodney Men’s Championship while the Rams sit at second to last.
Rodney Cricket Association chairman Aaron Sattler says Wellsford is the clear forerunner, but the competition is only halfway through and all of the teams have the capability to take it.
The Rodney 40 over competition resumed on Saturday, February 1.
