Cricket: Pringle emulates his dad

His dad is probably best known for his zinc-splattered face and a match-winning, run-less final over for the Black Caps in Hobart in 1990 - now Tauranga's Tim Pringle has got in on the act.

The 9-year-old son of former Black Caps seamer Chris Pringle made a memorable start to his representative cricket career with a hat-trick with the first three balls of his first over for Western Bay of Plenty under-11/Year 6 at their regional tournament.

Playing in Wanganui and coming on as second change bowler, the Matua Primary pupil sent three Manawatu batsmen packing, all caught, as Western Bay had a field-day with the ball, rolling their opponents for 42 in the 30-over clash. Western Bay got the runs without losing a wicket.

Tim was bumped up the chain yesterday against Auckland and gave away just four runs from his first three overs, proving stinginess with the ball is genetic.

Year 4 last year, the left-arm quick (who bats right-handed) needed dispensation to even trial for the Western Bay side, which is made up of Year 6 players two years his senior.

His dad played 14 tests and 64 one-dayers for New Zealand and said hat-tricks were a rarity in the family.

"I might have taken one or two playing club cricket in Auckland but nothing of any great significance,'' Pringle said yesterday. "While there was no spectacular stumps-flying action in any of Tim's three wickets, Tim was stoked nonetheless and his teammates were thrilled for him, too.''

Pringle took a career-best 14-119 in a first class game against Otago in 1993-94 but is probably best known for bowling a final-over maiden against Australia at Hobart in 1990.

Australia needed two runs to win but Pringle bowled a maiden, with his medium-pacers looping and swinging around No11 batsman Bruce Reid.