THE WAIT IS OVER: PRESEASON PARAGRAPHS

October 14. 2018. Usually, by now, the Auckland Club Cricket season is two weeks deep, the bowlers are hanging out of their boots to get on grass wickets, the creams are packed and the Hedley Howarth and Tom Hellaby two-day competitions are set to get underway. This season, though, with slight changes to the season, we have been left with an extended pre-season. Pre-season finally ended yesterday and that means one thing; the wait for meaningful cricket is all but over.

I’m sure you don’t need me to explain the virtues of a beginning and an end. So, I won’t. I will, however, explain why I spend most my summer Saturdays around the grounds.

Two years ago, Blair Webby, our former High School cricket coach, passed away. He loved this game and he did his utmost to foster that love in others. In 2005, during that epic Ashes series, we spent hours talking tactics – from Michael Vaughan’s deep point to marshalling tails through innings. He encouraged me to read. He asked tough questions. He encouraged me to put the team before myself. He once called me an astute tactician, which I still consider the greatest compliment I received as a cricketer. He was not only the inspiration for this website, but also, and sadly I realised this far too late, the closest thing I have had to a mentor.

I write for Blair and for the regret I have about losing touch with him. I write for the grafter who scores a first hundred and cannot explain exactly how or even believe that they did it. I write for a match-winning spell that may only be 2-30 off ten overs, but ultimately turned a match. I write to tell stories that would otherwise go untold. Above all, I write because I also love this game and it is my way of giving back to it.

So, here goes.

On Saturday, I journeyed across town to Vauxhall Reserve to watch North Shore and Takapuna put the final touches on their preparations for the forthcoming season. I arrived to overcast and blustery conditions and a greeting of you’re bloody brave. I guess I was, but also misguided not to have packed a third jumper.

Takapuna won the toss and elected to bat. In typical limited overs fashion, openers Guy Harley and Max O’Dowd hit gaps in the ringed field to find early boundaries. Angus Nicoll quickly found his groove when Tendai Chitongo held on to a steepler by the wicket.

Craig Cachopa built into his innings with deft touches behind the wicket, while Harley continued to tick away at the other end. Having driven Ronnie Hira handsomely over extra cover for six, Cachopa went for one sweep too many and Hira clipped his leg-stump.

Even so, Takapuna made a reasonable start heading to drinks – 115/2 from 24 overs – with Harley unbeaten on 48. English import Rob Sehmi had a scratchy start, twice inside-edging Nicoll past the stumps, before stamping his mark on the innings. He hit four fours and five sixes in a brisk 78 off 53 balls. He too was quick to get low flicking and paddling behind the wicket. Despite eventually running past one, Sehmi will be one to keep an eye on this summer.

Harley eventually skied Chitongo on 62, before Nicoll struck again. Hendrik van Vuuren then put on an exhibition in reverse sweeps and putting away loose balls. He peppered the third man boundary hitting two fours and seven sixes in his 39-ball 63.

Though Takapuna scored 99 runs in the final ten overs, North Shore will have been happy to keep Takapuna to 296/8. Nicoll was impressive for North Shore claiming four for 45 from his ten overs. Whenever North Shore required a wicket, Nicoll came up with something for captain Michael Olsen.

North’s Shore’s opening pair weren’t overly aggressive in their approach, yet still managed to keep up with the required run rate. Ryan Thomson cut and drove through the off-side while Namibian international Stephen Baard didn’t take long to show what he is capable of. The pair took North Shore to 88 before Niko Weerakoon snuck one past an advancing Thomson.

Baard and Hira kept the foot down, but both players picked out boundary fielders with disappointing strokes. On 67, Baard mistimed a half-tracker out to deep mid-wicket and Hira chipped Weerakoon to long-on bringing two new batsmen to the wicket.

With the game in the balance, Skipper Olsen and newcomer Doug Bradley went about the rebuild. Cachopa rang the changes. The difficulties of containment and making regular breakthroughs on artificial wickets became obvious. Olsen and Bradley added 65 off 63 balls with smart strokeplay and sensible options.

A run-a-ball 36 from Asiri Wickramanayake and a Chitongo cameo later took North Shore to the brink of victory. Weerakoon grabbed a third scalp late to add some late drama, but North Shore made it home with 7 balls and 3 wickets to spare.

It all changes next week. Grass wickets. Full-strength line-ups. Pressure cricket. Possible debuts. New faces. Wins. Losses. Wickets. Runs. Cricket is coming. Cricket is almost here.