Darwin would have been most amused

Guru Sandal and Aaron Ranara (wicketkeeper) during the fun game of cricket played in front of the mission house at Waimate North on Monday. Photo / Grant Sheehan

The 20/20 social cricket game at Te Waimate Mission on Waitangi Day turned out a great success for all involved.

The game took place between one team made up mainly of players from the WRMK Lawyers Kerikeri Cricket Club side (the only side from the Far North actively involved in provincial senior club cricket competition) and a Kerikeri Invitation XI.

The Invitational XI eventually won comfortably, surpassing the KCC first innings total of 123 with three wickets to spare, but the game was never about a result, spokesman Rob Drummond said.

"A really great day. It was just an awesome day for everyone," he said.

The matched was played in front of the mission house at Waimate North, the country's second-oldest building, to re-enact one of the earliest games of cricket ever played in New Zealand as witnessed by evolutionist Charles Darwin who visited the mission at Christmas 1835.

In the days leading up to the game last week, Te Waimate Mission manager Mita Harris noted Darwin had made a point of recording his observations of the game played by Maori and Pakeha.

"These young (Maori) men and boys appeared very merry and good-humoured," Darwin wrote. "In the evening I saw a party of them at cricket: when I thought of the austerity of which the missionaries have been accused, I was amused by observing one of their own sons taking an active part in the game."

"Darwin's record is a nice reminder that cricket has been part of New Zealand's culture for a very long time," Mr Harris said.

Back at Waimate North on Monday, the fun game attracted a strong turnout of 27 players and officials, including Northland Cricket Association officials Stephen Cuniss and Neal Parlane, with all doing their best to look the part by donning period costume.

Drummond estimated the number of spectators at being around 40 to 50 with people coming and going all day, and most of the onlookers taking advantage of the shade offered at the mission house grounds in very hot Waitangi Day summer conditions.

He said plans were afoot to make this a regular event, although the 'wicket' could do with a little work (a mat bought in from Kaikohe was used for the game).

Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a sheep-on-a-spit meal and refreshments from Heritage NZ.