Day 3 report

Today was a day of luck, some good, some bad.
One boy's bad luck yesterday in the As to injury meant a development player got the call up from Burgundy. (I learned a lesson yesterday as a convenor that call ups to A can only be in the same colour ie Burgundy Dev to Burgundy A, Black Dev to Black A.)
Bjorn Wojt was promoted to Burgundy A, and Tyran van der Westhuizen, a player who had been champing at the bit to play but who we hadn't known about until a couple of days before tournament, took his chance and joined the Burgundy Development Both boys bowled really well - both grabbing wickets.

Not so lucky was the Black A and Burgundy sides who faced a wicket that had had the sprinklers left on, and was wet on arrival, having been a dustbowl the day before. The match was delayed by 30 minutes while it dried out and the result was a very unhappy day for the batsmen. Not good for cricket.
You won't see many contributions on the scorecard from the bat. Burgundy A got luckiest in winning the toss and choosing to bat, rolling Black A for 66.
The batsman's job for Burgundy wasn't a lot easier - although had they got home and watched the Ashes afterwards, they would have REALLY seen a wicket to complain about! (Actually, they would have had plenty of time to watch it this afternoon because the game finished so early, a cunning plan).
Mention must be made, both teams will agree, of a screamer of a catch by Dan Robinson.  It was really spectacular (sorry Jeremy!)
Black 66 a/o
Burgundy 69/7

For Burgundy bowling
Andrew Scott 5 overs 2/8
Dylan Budler 4.4 overs 2/2 !
Sam Logan 2 overs 2/12

Black Bowling
Ross Ter Braak 8 0vers, 3/29
Nathan Banks 10 overs 2/28

Scorecard here


Black Development all out 150 lost to Western 153/1
D Fonseka 24
W O'Donnell 46
Scorecard here 
(there is an error in the bowling. Overs 5/6 attributed to S Henshaw were bowled by A Frew)


Burgundy Development 103 all out lost to Central Districts  106/4
D Vasan 28
M Dewe 19
BB J Young 9 overs 2/19
T van der Westhuizen 9 over 1/24
Scoreboard here

Rest day Wednesday - yes!

Photos: Thursday for the A grade sides. Be there 8.30am please. In CLEAN whites, with clean teeth, and perhaps give that hair a wash... :-) This is your last year in the grade for many of you so may as well look like a human for the photo.
(Development grade photos are Friday.)

On another note: A lot of the players have been asking me about Auckland selections. Auckland Cricket have told us that players really need to focus on developing their cricket, putting in good performances, winning their games. Very few players actually make the cut for the Auckland sides, particularly as this year they are looking at Under 17 and Under 19 sides. It's a very tough thing to get into. Players, particularly in the Development grades, need to understand that and relax and enjoy your cricket, and try and get the best out of yourself as you can. Also, if you feel you are not getting a fair run. PLEASE have a quiet word to your coach. Don't be frightened to, things may get overlooked. I don't mean whine to the coach but a "look I've bowled two overs in two games, can you get the captain to remember I exist" kind of word is fine. Don't be shy. This is something that should be done by PLAYERS not parents.
With many of the games being low scoring it's very hard for captains and coaches, especially when the ultimate goal is to win.
On that note - captains you are doing a great job.
Coaches - you have the patience of saints.
 Scorers - thank you so much to the parents who have helped with scoring. Love your work.

Boys - if you are scoring, please fill out ALL the fields! Who bowled it? Who caught it?
How many runs in the team total? How many wickets.
That makes the Auckland Cricket guys' job much easier. I've just realised today they are doing a manual entry of the Dev games on Cric HQ so I have put the links back on the previous pages.

Spirit of cricket mention today goes to Angus Frew. He knows why.