BC 1st XI Report - Saturday 23 March

Putting the disappointment of last weeks Gillette Cup knockout behind us, the Bethlehem College 1^st XI travelled down to Whakatane to take on the current Baywide title holders, Trident High School.

With BC being one of 4 teams sharing Term 1 top spot, this was going to be a crucial clash.

Winning the toss, we elected to bat, hoping to set a formidable total for Trident to chase.

Hopes were dashed however with a quick succession of wickets which saw us precariously poised at 67 for 8 off 24 overs … certainly not the plan!. With a wagging tail, Tom Rutherford (39) and Dylan Wadsworth (49 n.o) our innings ended on an unlikely 178 for 9 !. A credible total and the plan was back on track.

When Tridents opener was clean bowled in the first over, there was hope and when Wadsworth took his 2^nd wicket (2 for 16) in the 3^rd over the on field mood changed considerably.

Patrick Davenport took up the ball in the 8^th over and swinging the ball with apparent ease, snared a wicket in his first over and went on to a stunning 5 wickets for 5 runs off 6 overs (4 maidens incldg 3 wicket maidens)

The Trident middle order had been ripped apart, and with a couple of wickets to youngster Dan Price (2 for 12), Tridents innings ended with them on just 86.

With Aquinas losing to TBC 3rds Bethlehem were left sharing top of table spot with Otumoetai.

Having been runners up in the Baywide Term 4 2012 competition, BC had reasonable expectations for 2013.

Leading the bunch in the Baywide competition and moving through to last 20/20 hurdle of the Gillette Cup, it would be fair to say those expectations were met.

Gillette Cup 2013

Bethlehem College drew St Johns College (Hamilton) in the first Northern Districts play off game on Monday. Winning the toss , BC put St Johns in to bat, and with a steady fall of wickets had them on the ropes at 85 after 17.3 overs. Luke Bryenton was our standout bowler with 3 for 17. With no standout individual batting performance we reached their total for the loss of just 6 wickets to go on to the final afternoon hurdle, the winner of the Waiuku College / Mahurangi College (Warkworth) game.

This turned out to be Mahurangi, and again winning the toss we elected to get them to set us a total to chase down.

Starting off ominously they reached 50 for just 2 off the first 10 overs and with this solid base to play from, a large total was threatening. The BC boys knuckled down though and with a brilliant last over  from Dylan Wadsworth (3 wickets ) and another 3 wicket haul to Dylan Ramohitaj we restricted them to 105 for 8 off the 20 overs.

The chase followed and with a splendid opening partnership of 36 off just 5 overs Mitchell Fairweather and Jack Preston looked like they would comfortably get us close.

In what could only be classed as a classic cricketing collapse though, when Mitchells wicket fell, so too did the following batsman. With unfortunate regularity !.

Mahurangi took out the game with BC reaching just 89 and instead of us, it was them progressing through to the 50 overs games later this week. Maybe next year !!

Northern Knights Home Games

Ben Williams April 2013 Camp

Ben Williams Winter High Performance Programme