Tauranga Intermediate saved their best for last on day three of the New Zealand Post Cup and Shield finals, played at Lincoln University in Christchurch last week.
Led by a brilliant captain's knock of 145 not out by Nensi Patel, the ND representatives blasted an outstanding 210/4 in their allotted 20 overs against Arrowtown Primary School.
Nensi was in sublime touch with the bat, hammering her three-figure score off just 70 balls with 100 runs coming in boundaries. However the captain received plenty of assistance combining with Jade Harris (12) for an opening stand of 65, then adding another 83-run partnership with Sophia Rose, (18). While Arrowtown made a determined chase, the huge Tauranga Intermediate target proved too much with the Otago reps restricted to 101/6.
Tauranga's bowlers limited their opponents' attempts to hit out, with five Tauranga bowlers taking a wicket apiece.
Three wins from five games saw Tauranga finish a meritorious third in the NZ Cricket Primary School Girls Championship. The star of the tournament was Nensi, who received the Most Valuable Player award. The captain blasted 343 runs during the tournament including two centuries - nearly 150 runs more than the second-highest batting total. Remarkably, she was dismissed without scoring in Tauranga Intermediate's first game. Nensi also finished third on the most-wickets tally with nine bowling scalps.
