The North's summer of cricket for 2021/22 finished with a star-studded showcase on Sunday - perfectly timed to avoid this week's ex-tropical cyclone Fili.
Former Northland, Northern Districts and Black Caps star Dion Nash returned to Whangārei's Cobham Oval to represent the Cobham Cricket Club. He was named Cobham's man of the match after showing the old competitive fire familiar to anyone who watched him become the first player in history to take 10 wickets and score 50 runs in a test match at Lord's in 1994.
Nash, now 50, retired on 29 not out after sharing a 120-run fourth-wicket stand with Joseph Yovich, then took 2-12 off his four overs, including two maidens, as he opened the attack in the 35-over match against the visiting Seddon Cricket Club.
Seddon Cricket Club is one of a number of "kindred cricket clubs" to have sprung up around New Zealand to provide an avenue for enthusiasts and retired players to continue enjoying the sport while giving back to the community and emerging cricketers.
Fourteen-year-old Whangārei Boys' High quick Josh Laing is one such emerging talent and relished the opportunity to learn "on the job" from Nash, who stood at mid-off offering thoughts and support between deliveries as he charged in.
