CRICKET: Resolute run chase gets Kamo through

A-Grade cricket returned to Kensington Park for the final of the HRV A-Grade Cricket Championship.

Normally played at Tikipunga Domain, A-Grade is the highest standard for year seven and eight students.

Originally scheduled for grass before the wet weather intervened, previously unbeaten Kamo Red took on Northern Wairoa. Batting first, Northern Wairoa made a solid start on Saturday, with openers Caleb Matthews (33) and Harris Harding (19) putting on 70 for the first wicket.

Hamish Kidd batting at five then top-scored for the Wairoa side with a well compiled 37 as Northern Wairoa amassed 149 for six off their 40 overs. Pick of the bowlers was Ben Peperill who took two wickets for 21 runs.

In a resolute run chase, good batting from Lewis Miller (34), Flynn Hill (29) and Christian Nitsche (28) saw Kamo through to 126 for six, and the game in the balance.

However, Josh and Adam Salmon, batting sensibly and without panic, shared in a small but pivotal partnership to see Kamo through to victory with two overs to spare. Opening bowler Kyran Gillespie, bowled superbly for Northern Wairoa in taking four for 16.

The victory capped a fine pre-Christmas season for the Kamo side, unbeaten in all games this year and with strong representation in the respective junior representative sides. Northern Wairoa is a developing club with a growing player base. It is likely that the combatants in this game will be doing battle for title honours in premier cricket in future.

All games in the premier grade two-day cricket competition were cancelled due to the wet weather.