The Shrimpton Trophy will be proudly on display in the cabinet at Napier’s Nelson Park for another winter after unbeaten Hawke’s Bay ran away with the 2019/20 title at the weekend.

With consistent performances across November, December and January outings, Hawke’s Bay’s women dominated this season’s competition to defend the title — picking up three bonus points from their four victories to finish a full seven points clear of the field.

Captained by Sophie Pyott, Hawke’s Bay defeated Taranaki by 207 runs; Whanganui by 10 wickets; and Wairarapa by 113 runs before hosting a strong Manawatu in a top-of-the-table clash in the last round at the weekend.

Manawatu’s side featured NZC contracted international Hannah Rowe — missing from the current WHITE FERNS team playing South Africa, she claimed 3-13 off her eight overs and top-scored with 3; and fellow Central Hinds allrounder Mikaela Greig (2-19 and 29).

However, Hawke’s Bay managed to defend 140/8 (40 overs) by bowling the visitors out just five runs short of their target in an exciting finale that saw former Central Hinds keeper Kelly Rangi claim 4-9 and rising star Aniela Apperley 3-35 in a clutch win.

The overall contest for the silver medal was tight, too, Manawatu needing to watch their back.

With their nail-biting final-round defeat to the champions in Napier, Manawatu (11 points) were then edged by the Wairarapa Korus (12) on the season table for runner-up status — the Korus having picked up an extra bonus point after both they and Manawatu had collected two wins from the season.

The Korus had ended their season on a good note, beating Cricket Wanganui at Masterton’s QEII Park.

It was a tougher season for the Whanganui side and also for Taranaki, neither managing to pick up a win in their campaigns — which also included a washout.

Taranaki was already resigned to its fate, a final-round bye leaving them marooned at the foot of the ladder.

THE SHRIMPTON TROPHY | FINAL STANDINGS

 

 

Meanwhile, the CD Under 15 Boys’ trophy will reside in Palmerston North for 2020 after the local  up-and-comers went through their 2019/20 age-group fixtures unbeaten against CD’s other seven Districts.

The Under 15 Boys season concluded with a tournament hosted by Horowhenua-Kapiti last weekend. Manawatu finished four from four in the T20s, handing Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki their only defeats while Nelson and Marlborough picked up two wins. It was a similar story in the limited overs matches CDCA congratulates Hawke’s Bay Women and Manawatu Under 15 Boys on their successful campaigns.

In other weekend action, Hawke’s Bay regional qualifiers Napier Technical Old Boys — the reigning champions of New Zealand’s annual NZCT National Club Cricket Championship — defeated Wairarapa’s top club Red Star in a thrilling inter-district knockout.

With scores tied at 100-all on Sunday at the end of each side’s 20 overs, the knockout was decided by a super over — meaning supporters on the other side of the coast awaited the result on tenterhooks, as the CricHQ livescoring system didn’t cover such a scenario.

Finally, the text and phone calls reported that Bronson Meehan had managed to restrict Red Star to five runs, then Texan batsmen Christian Leopard and Matt Edmondson knocked off the target from just the first three deliveries to keep their national threepeat dream alive.

Napier Tech are now one step closer to proceeding to the four-team CDCA regional finals, the result of which will determine this April’s representative in Auckland, against the five other top clubs from throughout New Zealand. Napier Tech has won the national crown for the past two years on the bounce.

 

Also in action this weekend, CD’s South Island neighbours Marlborough and Nelson went head to head in the Zone 3 battle to win the right to a Hawke Cup challenge this season.

The match had originally been scheduled for Saxton Oval, where Nelson had brushed aside Buller in their previous round; but was transferred to nearby club ground Ngawhatu where Marlborough put up a solid first innings tally of 250 after having been sent in by Nelson.

Nelson then crumbled in reply, bowled out for 107 in 35.3 overs. In the box seat, Marlborough declared their second innings at 162/8 for an overall lead of 305 before a five-wicket bag to Nick Weaver sewed up a big victory as Nelson was rolled again for 130 in a shock 175-run loss.

Marlborough now heads the Zone 3 standings, seven points ahead of chasers Canterbury Country whom they will meet in their last interzone fixture on 1 February at Blenheim’s Horton Park, a potential dress rehearsal for the Zone final on the 14th.

Article added: Monday 27 January 2020