NETHERLANDS-BASED Gisborne woman Kerry-Anne Tomlinson has a habit of chalking up “firsts”.
First woman to play in a Poverty Bay men’s one-day game.
First Gisborne woman to play State Championship games (for Northern Spirit and Wellington Blaze).
But those other firsts will pale in comparison with what she intends to become her latest first — first Gisborne woman to play at a cricket world cup.
Tomlinson has been named in the Netherlands side to compete in a world cup qualifying tournament in Bangladesh, starting on November 14.
The Dutch side face South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United States in pool play.
The top four sides from the tournament qualify for the world cup.
Tomlinson, 21, has been playing and coaching in Holland for three seasons and qualified for the national team under the “exceptional circumstances” rule.
“My first application was turned down as I fell a few ways short under the residency qualification rule, she told The Gisborne Herald this week.
“I made another application but there were a lot of complications after qualify under the resident criteria . . . and then my father (Greg) died from a heart attack on January 3.
“When I made my second application they took this into consideration and it was approved by the ICC (international Cricket Council) two week ago.
“I’ve been picked as an all-rounder — batting in the top order and bowling 10 overs every game.
“It’s a dream come true, now I can’t wait to go to Bangladesh.”
“It was always a goal of mine to play for New Zealand but even if I was picked I face a two-year stand down period. —at this stage of my career I am totally committed to the Netherlands.”
Tomlinson’s first two seasons were with the Red and White club in the North Holland province.
She joined the Utrecht-based Kampong club as player/coach and guided the team to the one-day championship title — beating Ajax in the rain-affected final.
Ajax were dismissed for just 77 in the 43rd over, with Tomlinson taking two wickets for nine runs off nine overs.
She then opened the batting and made a cautious 25 not out off 72 balls as Kampong reached a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted 56-0 to win.
Tomlinson finished the six-match season with bowling figures of 9-94 at an average of 10.44 and an economy rate of 3.02.
With the bat, she scored 291 runs at an average of 72.72 and a top score of 93.
Tomlinson also played for the Dutch national team who won the England Cricket Board’s third division competition, earning promotion to division two.
“The UK have their own women’s club competition with five divisions,” she said. “The Netherlands wanted to be included in this competition to get more competition and improve the standard of womens cricket within the national team,” said Tomlinson.
“They had to start in the lowest division — division five — three seasons ago and were promoted to division four after winning division five.
“I also played some games when we won division four last year. This year we won all six of our games in division three.
Tomlinson’s efforts were highlighted by an unbeaten 77 off 44 balls, including five sixes and five fours, against Devon.
“I was top wicket-taker (17), along with a good Kiwi friend, Esther Lanser, who has a Dutch passport and plays for Central Districts in the domestic competition in NZ. I also had one of the top batting averages of 70.
“It’s great having Esther in the team. She was born in NZ and we were good friends before we both started playing for the Dutch team.
The Netherlands also won the European Championships one-day competition and twenty/20 competition, which included victories over Ireland and Scotland.
Tomlinson said she would never have made it this far in her career if it had not been for the coaching and encouragement of Poverty Bay development officer David McDonald, Bindy Hannah, family and friends.
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