The Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club (HPCC) have started the year off strong with wins recorded for both premier men’s and women’s sides.
Due to rain, all senior grades were moved to artificial wickets on Saturday with no grass available, and in some cases, games were played at locations that are generally not used for cricket at this level.
For the premier men, HPCC won the toss and elected to bowl first against Suburbs New Lynn in round four of the Premier Men Jeff Crowe Cup Limited over Competition.
Playing on artificial wickets is always tough for bowlers at this level, however 18-year-old Caine Bethune didn’t let this phase him in only his second premier men’s game, picking up three wickets.
With a strong batting line-up, inclusive of former Auckland domestic player Michael Barry who scored 81, Suburbs were dismissed for 251 by a determined Howick Pakuranga.
In return, the HPCC batting lineup looked solid again, losing only two wickets as they knocked off the target with six overs to spare.
Daniel Young and Liam Winn shared a 175-run partnership for the second wicket.
Young scored his second century of the season and carried his bat through the innings to score a diligent 110 not out as Winn scored 102 off just 86 balls, including six big sixes.
After rain struck much of the country last week, a T20 premier men game scheduled for January 11 was postponed to this Wednesday January 18 where HPCC will play Auckland University.
The premier women played two rounds of the Pearl Dawson T20 competition at Colin Maiden Park on Saturday after the first two rounds of the competition were abandoned last weekend due to rain.
Having made the finals of this competition for the last three seasons, the HPCC premier women have set high targets for this summer.
First up they played Cornwall who batted first and scored 96/7 which HPCC chased with three overs and five wickets to spare.
In the second game they played premier newcomers North Shore.
HPCC elected to bowl with rain forecast for the afternoon and after 20 overs North Shore finished on 68/9, with Auckland Hearts player Josie Penfold taking 4/8 for HPCC.
HPCC chased this with ease, winning by 10 wickets from just eight overs.
Star of the team for both games was the HPCC’s hard-hitting opening batter Radhika Patel who scored 28 from 23 balls against Cornwall, and followed it up with 52* from just 30 balls against North Shore.
Several Howick Pakuranga players were selected for higher honours over the Christmas break, playing for respective representative teams.
Up-and-coming youngster Holly Lightbourne has been selected for the Auckland U19 women’s team, Auckland Maori Secondary School girls and was also part of the Epsom Girls Grammar side that recently won the Gillette Venus Cup National Schools Tournament in Christchurch.
Lightbourne joined HPCC this season for a better opportunity to play premier cricket after previously playing at Cornwall.
Premier player and rising star of women’s cricket Ayaan Lambat was selected for the Auckland U17 women’s side to play in the Women’s U17 North Island tournament from January 9-12.
Lambat is in her third summer of premier cricket and this is the first summer she has been eligible for the Auckland District girls U17 tournament, having turned 14 in October.
Lambat represented Manukau in the tournament and was a star performer, finishing as the top run scorer, top wicket-taker and overall MVP.
Neena Woollaston was also selected in the Auckland U17 women’s side as well as being named a non-travelling reserve for the U19 side.
Woollaston is a regular in the HPCC premier woman’s side and made her captaincy debut for one game this season.
The year 12 Howick College student has also been selected for the Auckland Cricket Rangatahi Female leadership programme.
Lachie Stackpole, who made his premier men’s debut last season at only 16, while also playing for the Sacred Heart College First XI, played for the Auckland Under 19 side over the break.
Stackpole is a well-known talent within his age group and has been a regular rep selection for the past few seasons.
HPCC youngsters Selwin Sanjay and Connor Greening have both been selected for the Auckland U17 men’s side that play in the National U17 boys’ tournament this week in Canterbury.
Sanjay, a top order batsman and spinner, Greening a left arm opening bowler, both play for the Macleans College first XI.
Both boys have been regular high performers for college and club over the past few seasons.
Howick Pakuranga Premier Results
Premier Men- T20 Competition
Round Five: January 7th- Howick Pakuranga against Eden Roskill was abandoned due to weather.
Round Six: January 7th- Howick Pakuranga against Parnell was abandoned due to weather.
Round Seven: January 11th- Howick Pakuranga against Auckland University has been postponed to Wednesday January 18.
Premier Men Jeff Crowe Cup Limited over Competition | Round 4
Suburbs New Lynn 251 (M Barry 81, T Payle 60; R Botadra 3-25, C Bethune 3-56) lost to Howick Pakuranga 252/2 (D Young 110 not out, L Winn 102; M Barry 2-47) by eight wickets.
Premier Women – Pearl Dawson Trophy T20 Competition
Round One: January 7- Howick Pakuranga against Auckland University was abandoned due to weather.
Round Two: January 7- Howick Pakuranga against Papatoetoe was abandoned due to weather.
Round Three: January 14- Howick Pakuranga defeated Cornwall by five wickets.
Round Four: January 14- Howick Pakuranga defeated North Shore by 10 wickets.
Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club Upcoming Fixtures
Round 7, Premier Men T20 Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Auckland University CC Premier Men at Michaels Avenue Reserve- Wednesday January 18, 5.30pm.
Round 5, Limited overs Jeff Crowe Cup- Howick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Takapuna CC Premier Men at Lloyd Elsmore Park- Saturday January 21, 11am
Round 5, Premier Women Pearl Dawson Trophy T20 Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Parnell CC Premier Women at Colin Maiden Park- Saturday January 21, 11am.
Round 6, Premier Women Pearl Dawson Trophy T20 Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Takapuna CC Premier Women at Colin Maiden Park- Saturday January 21, 3pm
