A special opportunity for our Lords’ Taverner boys last week when they got to play against a touring New Zealand side for a day/nighter at Chelmer.
The boys were excited for the opportunity to play under lights and were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the WBHS New Zealand side.
Wests won the toss and decided to send the visitors in for a bat which got our opening bowlers, Jordan Hook and Lachlan McCreath excited. Ball in hand, Lachlan struck first with a wicket in his first over which fired up the Wests boys. Jordan followed with his first wicket and then our spinners came on and ripped through the middle order. Eklavya Yadav having a great night with the ball, finishing with 4/15 off his 6 overs. Kie Specogna, 2/9 off his 4 and Jordan and Lachlan each with 1 wicket, and helped with some special fielding from Liam and Charlie Mcgrath with his rocket arm to throw the stumps down from a couple of metres inside the boundary. New Zealand opener, Zac, the best of their batters with 38 off 52 balls. A great effort for his first time batting under lights.
With the storm clouds moving in our openers went in ready to face the pace of the New Zealand quicks. I think the NZ boys like the Aussie turf wicket, taking three wickets in the power play. Luke Mayer came in and tried to steady the ship, but the NZ boys were enjoying the conditions and sent another batter back to the sheds. With Charlie McGrath and Kie Specogna at the crease, the boys dug in and got the total to 4/70 after 15 overs before the rain started to fall and the New Zealanders got to experience a Queensland storm. Their opening bowler, Josh, with impressive figures of 3/12 off his 5 overs the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.
With the game over, both teams enjoyed a post match dinner and expressed how enjoyable it was to play under lights, appreciating the wonderful opportunity Wests provided.