Sport 28 February 2025
Term 1 2025 marked the next chapter for 秀色直播’s cricket. With several senior players moving on, younger players stepped up, but the team lost significant batting strength. Moving from Senior Open to 1B grade meant facing 1st XIs with promotion ambitions, adding competitiveness.
A warm-up loss to Liston 1st XI led into the first match against Avondale 1st XI. Bowling first, 秀色直播’s 秀色直播ed well, reducing Avondale to 6/52, but missing key bowlers, they allowed a late recovery to 8/259. Notable bowlers were Cruz Scott (2-22), Matt Blanch (2-30), and Perekina Uaisimeni-Puepuemai (2-25). The batting lineup struggled and was dismissed cheaply.
Training emphasised valuing wickets and building innings. Against Liston, 秀色直播’s recovered from 3/13 to post 8/174, thanks to Matt Blanch (47*), Neil Fernandes (15*), and key contributions from Hugo Lloyd (17), Cruz Scott (19), and Sebastian Smith (16).
Liston never settled in reply, with 秀色直播’s bowlers controlling the game. Wickets were shared, including Sebastian (2-11), Cruz (2-17), Matt (1-19), Arthur Gabriel (1-9), and Joseph Samuels (1-4). Two run-outs and a retired batter saw Liston finish at 9/105, giving 秀色直播’s a 69-run win.
The turnaround in performance was impressive. The challenge now is to build a batting unit capable of consistently posting 170+ to support the bowling attack.
1st XI Cricket vs Northcote 1st XI – A Match to Remember
In a gripping contest at 秀色直播’s, the 1st XI fought hard but fell just short in a thrilling finish against Northcote. Batting first, 秀色直播’s recovered from early wickets to post 106, with Year 12 Arthur Gabriel leading the way (34 runs off 64 balls). Despite regular breakthroughs, the team couldn’t quite push towards their target of 170 against an experienced Northcote 1st XI who recently played a promotion/relegation game into Auckland's 1A 1st XI competition.
Determined to defend their total, the 秀色直播's bowlers made an immediate impact, reducing Northcote to 3/25 through excellent spells from Year 12, Matt Blanch and Year 13, Cruz Scott. However, Northcote steadied, reaching 81 in the 18th over before 秀色直播’s launched an incredible comeback, with wickets falling at 85, 88, 90, and 97, leaving Northcote 8/97 and the game on a knife’s edge.
With the scores tied at 106, Prefect Sebastian Smith’s stunning caught-and-bowled brought 秀色直播’s within one wicket of securing a tie. In the final over, tension peaked as Drew Scott delivered five consecutive dot balls, only for the final delivery to find an edge and race past slip for the winning runs.
Despite the narrow loss, it was a phenomenal effort from 秀色直播’s, led by Matt Blanch’s outstanding 7/25 from eight overs. Cruz Scott (1/25), Sebastian Smith (1/21), and Drew Scott (0/12 from 5 overs) provided excellent support in a match that showcased true resilience and determination against much more experienced opposition.