Historic MCC bat changes hands

Winning Wainui cricket team (back row, from left) Mike MacLeod (coach), Josiah Turner (Poverty Bay development officer and competitions administrator), Mike Hope (manager), with players (from left) Monte Allan, Max Williams, Sebastian Botma, Jack Murphy (captain), Hugo Girling-Butcher (obscured), Moses MacLeod (with the MCC Bat), Tristan Walker-Daniels, Jasper Shand, Theo Alley, Logan Smith.Picture by Ben O’Brien-Leaf

Wainui Beach School cricket has risen again.

In the past two years, under coaches Mike MacLeod and Nic Shand, teachers Jo Shand and Katie Knight, and manager Mike Hope, they have raised their stocks from three cricketers to two teams.

Yesterday Wainui beat Central School by 101 runs to claim the Ranfurly Shield of Poverty Bay primary school cricket — the MCC Bat. Just last Thursday they won the Northern Districts Cricket Express Scholarship for most deserving club or school for 2023-2024 and $1000 to be spent on gear.

Wainui Yellow and Wainui Blue played in the T20 primary school hardball on Friday nights and the eight-over Super Smash eight-a-side festival a fortnight ago.

“It’s awesome to see how far all players in the six hardball teams came over the season. Today was a great way to finish it,” said Poverty Bay development officer and competitions administrator Josiah Turner.

Wainui’s first defence of the MCC Bat  will be against Mangapapa School in Term 4.

Central captain Angus MacKintosh won the toss and elected to bowl.

Wainui posted a huge total of 261-5 in 20 overs. At the top of the order, Sebastian Botma and Theo Alley drummed up 29 (20 balls) and 20 (22 balls), both not-out, and Jasper Shand 21 from 19 balls batting at No.5.

Second-drop Monte Allen (16, 10 balls) hit the only six of the match. He was well caught by Monty Nikora at mid-wicket. There were 140 extras conceded: 50 penalty runs, 58 no-balls and 32 wides.

Central’s Tyler Lynch took 2-30 in three overs and fellow medium-pacer Nikora also impressed, with 1-13 in two overs.

Under yesterday’s rules, batsmen had a grace period of six balls with five runs awarded to the opposition for every wicket lost during each batsman’s first six balls.

Central reached 160-7, Ben Claffey hammering 25 runs off 17 balls from No.1. Fifth man, skipper MacKintosh, made 28 not-out off 22. Wainui conceded 50 extras, including 34 wides and 16 no-balls.

Wainui’s Jasper Shand took 5-7 in two overs and was on a hat-trick at one stage.Other bowlers were Monte Allan (2-15, two overs), Tristan Walker-Daniels (3-21, two overs) and Logan Smith (0-15, three overs).

Allan, captain Jack Murphy and Theo Alley all held two catches.

Murphy said: “To win the MCC Bat was cool because of the history, and the fact that you’re playing for it with your mates from other schools. Monte’s pull-shot for six was the highlight.”

Central’s Angus MacKintosh said: “It was exciting to have the MCC Bat at our school and I’m proud of our team’s effort today. It was a tough game. Wainui are very good.”