Pakiri cricket on track to fill trophy cabinet

Pakiri has maintained its dominance in the Rodney Championship cricket competition, beating Warkworth in a top of the table clash at Whangateau Domain on February 20.

Warkworth lost the toss and were sent in to bat first. The team lost a couple of wickets early in the 40-over match, and the rest of the order struggled to gain momentum. The side was all out for 133 after 37 overs. Tom Hatful was top scorer on 32 runs. Stefan Gravatt was best bowler, gaining four wickets for 14 runs from his eight overs, continuing his good form in the season.

Pakiri was able to chase down the score in 31 overs for the loss of four wickets. Spencer Bishop was top scorer, bowled out for 49 runs, including three sixes.

Pakiri has only lost one game this season – to underdog Otamatea in a home game – and Pakiri players are leading in all fields of the game in the Rodney Cricket Association player rankings for batting, bowling and fielding.

 

Craig Radford is top of the batting table with an astounding average of 130 from nine matches, while Stefan leads the bowling table with 22 wickets from 10 matches. Jamie Thomas leads both the fielding and the most valuable player tables, with six catches and two run-out assists (see all the player rankings at sportsground.co.nz/rodneycricket/122818/).

Pakiri team manager Stefan Gravatt says the club is on track to have its best season in years. Pakiri won the Waitemata Cup Twenty20 competition before Christmas and is a stronger contender to take out the Rodney Championship.

“We’ve won the championship the last few years but it’s been five years since we’ve won both titles,” Stefan says.

 

“If we can beat Kaipara again we should win the championship.”

The club is planning to lay a new concrete pitch at the Pakiri home ground at the end of the season.

 

Warkworth is hoping to field two teams next year.

Club captain Hayden Searle says the team has been boosted by growth in the area.

“Last year we had four or five players who had never played cricket before and they’ve absolutely loved it. By the end of the year they were batting and bowling well.”

Pakiri has a bye this weekend, but plays Kaipara Flats at Kaipara Flats Cricket Ground on March 12 and Wellsford at Pakiri for the season finale on March 19.

Warkworth is playing Wellsford at Whangateau Domain this weekend and has a bye the following weekend before paying Otamatea at Otamatea High School on March 19.