It was seventh time lucky for Eastern Suburbs as the Wellingtonian representatives got up to win their maiden NZCT National Club Championship title.
Easts captain Lance Dry receives the trophy from NZC CEO David White
The title came courtesy of Auckland rain that conspired to scotch all three matches on Finals day at Cornwall Park.
The battle did get underway for all teams, however, and down at the number three ground there was a complete innings from Kaikorai that starred a raucous century from SBS Bank Otago Volt Iain Robertson, scored off just 36 balls.
But all eyes were on the number ground where Christchurch’s St Albans — championship contenders for two years running and unbeaten this time around until the day before — were locked in battle with the capital lads who had handed them that critical defeat.
Why had that one loss been so crucial? Because it meant the Wellingtonians not only finished on equal points, but were also then ahead on net run rate. And now they were squaring off in the Grand Final, and a thick grey blanket of rain was creeping across the city, and eventually — just after 4pm — the match would be abandoned with St Albans stopped at 74/4 and unable to “put things right”.
Easts’ Jamie Gibson was named overall Player of the Tournament after scoring 126 runs at 31.50 and taking 11 wickets at 9.18.
Jamie Gibson receives his MVP award from NZC CEO David White
Batsman of the week went to young Christian Leopard of Napier Tech (358 runs at 71.60); allrounder of the tournament to his teammate Indika Senarathne (279 runs at 46.50 and seven wickets at 15.43 plus the highest individual score of 145) and bowler of the tournament to relentless Suburbs New Lynn competitor Josh Presland (15 wickets at 11.13 and best individual bowling figures of 7-59).
Final Placings
1st Eastern Suburbs (Wellington)
2nd St Albans (Canterbury)
3rd Napier Tech Old Boys (Central Districts)
4th Suburbs New Lynn (Auckland)
5th Kaikorai (Otago)
6th Manukau City (Northern Districts)
St Albans 74/4 v Eastern Suburbs (did not bat)
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St Albans elected to bat first, dew on the number one ground having seen the showcase match get underway 20 minutes after the other two games.
As befits a Final, both teams gave no quarter in conditions that required the batting side to earn their runs.
The Wellingtonians made regular breakthroughs in the 24 overs of play that was possible, wickets shared around the attack except, ironically, for Jamie Gibson, who had arguably caused the most trouble with a mean economy rate of just 1.33 reflecting the respect he commanded.
After light but lingering rain forced all the games to be suspended, St Albans kept their hopes up that play would eventually be able to resume, giving them a crack at bowling at their opponents in a reduced overs DLS match.
But while the covers did come off a few hours later and best attempts were made to dry off the ground, conditions did not play ball, and that was that — Easts winning their first ever title in the 22nd edition of the national tournament, on superior net run rate.
Napier Tech Old Boys (Central Districts) v Suburbs New Lynn (Auckland)
Napier Tech Old Boys 154/8 (Christian Leopard 54, Indika Senarathne 40; Josh Presland 3-30) v Suburbs New Lynn (did not bat) – match abandoned
Napier’s “Texans” were determined to finish their hit and miss week on a good note — and in the 27.2 overs possible before rain, they did plenty to remind everyone that they were a side of showstoppers.
Devon Hotel Central Stag Indie Senarathne (later named allrounder of the tournament) went out booming, his 44 typically flying off just 22 balls, comprised almost entirely of boundaries and sixes on the spacious number two ground.
Suburbs captain Michael Barry rejoiced in getting him out after 25 minutes of all-out assault.
The breakthrough paved the way for bowler of the tournament Josh Presland (3-30) — eclipsing some serious names in the process, and after having to miss a couple of days due to work commitments — to rip into the rest of the top four with his niggling pace and never-say-die attitude.
Ash Vodnala unfortunately had to retire hurt with a hand injury before he had even got going, leaving the capable Christian Leopard to pick up the pieces for the Napierites.
The young Leopard showed why he was one of the stars of the tournament, cracking his way to a run-a-ball half century before being caught off well-performed Auckland A allrounder Dane Watson.
The Texans found themselves effectively nine down for 154 against the unified Suburbs outfit when rain stopped play, but would survive for the bronze medal when the match was later called.
Kaikorai (Otago) v Manukau City (Northern Districts)
Kaikorai 248 (Iain Robertson 101, Rhys Bayly 30, Georgie Scott 30; Ish Sodhi 4-41, Nick Kelly 4-88) v Manukau City 23/1 – match abandoned
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The battle for the tournament wooden spoon turned out to be a riotously entertaining encounter, helped along by the players themselves who enriched the match with their stints of commentary, led by Mr. Sodhi.
BLACKCAP Ish Sodhi, who had missed the previous days with Northern Districts awards and other commitments, was back to help his team on the last day of the 2015/16 season and thoroughly enjoyed himself — without dropping his high standards for a minute.
He fired himself up against the not inconsiderable names in the Kaikorai line-up, and in the meantime SBS Bank Otago Volt Iain Robertson had ensured the Dunedin side would be well set up with the most blistering performance yet on the small number three ground.
Opener Robertson smashed a 17-ball 50 and then converted it to a 34-ball century as he relentlessly took on allcomers — seven sixes in his tally.
He was stumped charging Nick Kelly with the score at 70, and from there Manukau — through Kelly and Sodhi — got themselves back in control, the pair chipping out four relatively quick wickets each, including the dangerously fearless Geordie Scott.
He fell to the most entertaining catch of the day, Troy Joll successfully cutting in front of Tamati Clarke — to the enormous amusement of his teammates.
Manukau succeeding in bundling out Kaikorai for 248 in just the 27th over, a gettable target on the small ground.
They were naturally keen to get a least one win on the board for the tournament and smashed 23 off the opening over before the rain had the final say.
For both teams it ended an educational maiden appearance in the National club finals.
