Takapuna Ponies – Prichard Cup Champions 2022/23

Takapuna 154/5 (Lauren Down 63*) beat Takapuna 153 (Sarah Carnachan 40, Taila Hurley 3/33) by 5 wicketsSCORECARD

After what everyone involved would call a “disappointing” season weather wise, the third finals weekend of the season ran without a hitch, giving our Premier Club cricketers something to cherish at the tail-end of the summer.

At Melville Park, two of the historic powerhouse teams in Auckland women’s club cricket went head to head for the Prichard Cup, the Premier Women’s 50 over competition.

Winning the toss, Cornwall skipper Claire Crooks did what most captains have done in March and decided to have a bat.

Her decision looked an astute one with Cornwall nicely placed at 110/2 and two HEARTS veterans, Sarah Carnachan and Katie Perkins at the crease.

But a collapse was inbound with Taila Hurley accounted for Carhachan and then Crooks and Emily Thurman in quick succession.

After Perkins fell to Kaitlyn Halliday, Cornwall found themselves in a hole they couldn’t dig out of and folded for 153 in the 45th over.

Hurley (3/33) and Halliday (2/19) were the pick of the bowlers with good contributions from Kate Irwin (2/28), Roz McNeill (1/21) and Leah Watton (1/23).

Despite a modest chase, the Takapuna batters were going to need at least one or two good partnerships to get over the line against a superb Cornwall bowling line-up.

After some wobbles up front with HEARTS pair Kate Irwin and Izzy Gaze falling cheaply, the wise head of Lauren Down dropped anchor, combining with Shannen Elliott (24) and then Hurley (26), to help avoid collapses and see Takapuna home.

In the end, they calmly overtook the target in the 44th over with Down still at the crease with 63.

With the HEARTS campaign finishing up in late February, this weekend served as the final goodbye to women’s cricket for 2022/23.

Congratulations to Takapuna, Cornwall and all the other teams who’ve turned out for their clubs, schools and districts. We will see you again in 2023/24!

March 27, 2023