Cricket: Successful run chase

Black Cap Adam Milne, former White Fern Coach Mike Shrimpton and Junior Cricketer of the Year Jess Watkins (back row) helped the Wanganui East Black team celebrate a solid Kiwi win. The team (from left) is: Damon Priston, Bailey McNamarra-Hunt, Devon Maihi, Haka Tihema, Malachi Lee, Akiwa Koro and Levi Hoekstra. Photo/Supplied

The Wanganui East Black Team chased a creditable 160-run score to edge out Mosston School in the final of the Kiwi Vettori Grade cricket competition at the weekend.

With huge whanau/spectator support watching the match on Victoria Park's No 1 pitch, Wanganui East won the toss and captain Devon Maihi put Mosston into bat. The fielding from all the Wanganui East players was sharp and the bowling was tight and accurate.

Akiwa Koro and Bailey McNamarra-Hunt secured two wickets each and Malachi Lee, Levi Hoekstra and Damon Priston one each.

Mosston scored 160, a challenging score to chase. Lee and Maihi had a solid partnership in the middle of the innings of 35 runs and the other batsmen kept things ticking along. The end result, a nail biting game finishing with the Wanganui East Team winning by just five runs.

The team was presented with their winners' cup by Adam Milne (current Black Cap) and other awards were given by Milne supported by Mike Shrimpton (former New Zealand test cricketer).

The trophy for the most runs scored in the final was awarded to Maihi and Hoekstra won the prize for the Most Improved Player for the Wanganui East Team over the season.

The competition involved all primary schools in the district and began at the start of term one.