Takapuna District Cricket Club

It's official - we are the best cricket club in the country! Last week the annual six day National Club Championship tournament was held at Cornwall Park for the one day champions from each of the major associations. (The match report for the final is below). It was a great performance by our Premiers players and their were some standout achievements over the week from Greg Johnson 197, Elliot Herd 174 and Robbie O'Donnell 4 - 23 vs Taieri. Robbie O'Donnell 49, Ryan Scivier 41 and Greg Johnson 3-31 vs Easts, Robbie O"Donnell 72 vs St Albans in pool play, Brad Cachopa 150 and Elliott Herd 55 vs United Palmerston North, Brad cachopa 49 and Elliot Herd 61 vs Otumoetai.   

Auckland's Takapuna outclassed tournament front runners Canturbury's St Albans to win their first ever national club title to cap off an outstanding season. In a match that had plenty of emotion Takapuna's captain Blake Douglas won the the toss and decided to bat.  In trouble early at 3-42 through the deadly accurate bowling of Michael Davidson (3-39) and under all kinds of pressure it took the efforts of Jono Sole (98) to play one of the innings of the tournament to spark life into Takapuna's batting. The resulting partnerships with Robbie O'Donnell (24) and later with Daniel ter Braak (34) led into an aggressive last 5 overs that produced a respectable 238 scoreline.  Needing a strong response St Albans started in conservative fashion getting to 33 in the 8th over before losing their first wicket.  With the pressure mounting more wickets followed as accurate stump to stump bowling had St Albans in trouble.  Reeling at 4-38 an all out collaspe looked possible as wickets continued to tumble with spin bowlers Elliot Herd (4-19) and Ryan Scivier (2-4) doing the damage to bowl Takapuna to victory and with it their first ever National Club title.

Takapuna (Auckland) 238/9 (Jono Sole 98, Daniel ter Braak 34; Michael Davidson 3-39) DEFEATED St Albans (Canterbury) 97 (Elliot Herd 4-19) BY 141 RUNS