Batting blues in Bay opener

CRICKET

THE decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired on Poverty Bay in their opening game of the Northern Districts senior secondary schoolboys tournament at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday.
A combination of loose batting from the home side and tight medium pace bowling from Waikato Valley Plains’ Lachlan Cooper, on a green track in overcast conditions, were the major factors in the Bay’s two-wicket loss.
Poverty Bay lost their first wicket — Danny Gibbs (9) — with the score at 33.
Cooper then ripped through the batting line-up, finishing with six wickets for 11 runs off eight overs as the Bay slumped to 5-56. Baxter Mackay, skipper Izaya Broderick, Sam Tallott and Dane Thompson all went cheaply.
“Waikato bowled well but our batting left a lot to be desired,” said Bay manager David McDonald. “We just didn’t show enough batting application, which is disappointing as we have some very good batsmen.”
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals before a ninth-wicket partnership of 42 between Sam Niven and Tom Needham helped them through to 129.
Waikato reached their target for the loss of eight wickets. Nik Boyle (29) led the chase, with support from Mitchell Hickey (26).
Broderick, Tallott and Gibbs picked up two wickets each.
The Bay today faced Bay of Plenty Coastlands, who lost their opening game to Counties Manukau.
Hamilton and Northland were also first-up winners yesterday.
Freddy Walker was Hamilton’s star in a 157-run win over Waikato Valley South.
Matt Lowe topscored with 65 and Walker (33) added valuable support as Hamilton posted 243 off 50 overs.
Walker then turned chief destroyer with the ball, taking 7-18 as Waikato were rolled for 86.
SCORES — Poverty Bay 129 (Tom Needham 36no Baxter McKay 28; Lachlan Cooper 6-11, Nik Boyle 2-17) lost to Waikato Valley Plains 133-8 (Nik Boyle 29, Mitchell Hickey 26; Izaya Broderick 2-38, Sam Tallott 2-15, Danny Gibbs 2-24) by 2 wickets.
BOP Lakelands 199-4 (Pip Thickpenny 75, Jonty Keaney 43; David Armitt 2-39) lost to Northland 200-8 (Keeley Johnson 67, Tom Herman 32, Kurtley Watson 25 Bradley Kneebone 21; Tom Atkinson 2-35, Sam Pulis 2-31, Shayde Perham 2-34) by 2 wickets.
Bop Coastlands 185 (Shaun McCarthy 35, Cameron Neal 34, Jordan Shaw 20; Matthew Singh 3-34, Ben Turner 2-41, Sam Whimp 2-16) lost to Counties/Manukau 189-4 (Cam Gibbons 53, Matthew Cole 22, Luke Williamson 43; Tom Macrury 2-37, James Boyd 2-13) by 6 wickets.
Hamilton 243 (Matt Lowe 65, Freddy Walker 33, Josh Fawcett 28; Nick Perring 3-56, Adam Buist 3-7) def Waikato Valley South 86 (Doug Bradley 26; Fred Walker 7-18, Jono Whitley 3-21).