The 2020-21 Marlborough summer of Cricket comes to a close this weekend with the SBS Bank 2nd grade Challenge Cup Final on Saturday followed by our end of season awards evening, then the Churchill Trust Women’s Cricket festival day wrapping things up on Sunday.
Wairau Valley face Kaikoura in Saturday’s final with their 100% record intact following their latest victory over Renwick last weekend. Joel Pannell top scored with 91 in Valley’s 231 for 8, Andrew Marshall taking 3-21 for Renwick who fell 115 runs short in the face of fine bowling from Luke Pannell (3-14) and Greg Stretch (3-24). Kaikoura lost by 3 wickets to Celtic Green for whom Logan Robinson top scored with 57 and Lucca Turnbull had outstanding figures of 7-43. Jon-Paul Roberts made 42 for Kaikoura, while Scott Snow took 4-21. Wairau were comfortable winners over Celtic Gold with Hunter Ruffell and Mike Croad each taking 3 wickets.
In 3rd grade 40 over round 3 games Olly Pauling (59) and Jason Baker (41) made crucial contributions as Wairau Valley edged a tight 4 run win over Renwick (Greg Winstanley 42, Nathan Brooke-Taylor 39, Tom Marshall 28 & 3-22). In the other game Wairau were dismissed for only 23 in Celtic’s 10 wicket win, Couper Robinson taking 3-9.
In WK 4th grade outstanding performances this week included: Taylor Heger (36 & 3-14), Saroj Jat (3-15), Albert Nott (44), Sinclair Hill (38), Liam Cohen (28 & 3-4), Spencer Gregg (41), Triyambak Gaur (26), Madalyn Winstanley (3-13), Leo Yianakis (36), James Crowe (28), and Joshua Van Asch (4-27).
A hat-trick in cricket (3 wickets in 3 successive balls) is rare enough, so for two players to achieve the feat of taking 4 wickets in 4 successive balls in the last two weeks is definitely worthy of mention. First up was Thomas Fishburn for Wairau Valley 3rd grade in the first round of the 40 over competition, his final figures being 4-9 from 3 overs. Then last weekend Eddie Russell achieved the same feat for Wairau Tigers 5th grade side with his final figures reading 4-7 from 3 overs. Congratulations to both players and to all the junior grade players who have performed so well over the past 6 weeks. It is noticeable just how many different names have appeared in the outstanding performances list.
A huge thankyou also to the coaches who look after our club junior teams and keep us informed of scores and performances. I look forward to junior cricket competitions re-starting in November and hope you all enjoy your winter sports.
Finally we hope to see many of you this weekend at the 2nd grade final, the awards evening and at the Women’s festival day on Sunday.
