Y5 Jaguars

An understrength Collegians Jaguars won a close fought game with Johnsonville, with MacKenzie Preston combining with Jaime Edwards to close out the game.

With only six players available (but a broken armed Ed Mercer able to bowl) the Jaguars bowled first.  Jaime excelled in the taking three wickets for 15 runs off her four overs including a double wicket maiden to really put a halt on the Johnsonville scoring.  All the bowlers stood up with only 13 wides, the lowest number this year, making the Johnsonville bowlers fight for their runs.  Ed Mercer, broken arm and all, picked up the other Jaguar’s wicket.

With only six batters, but supplemented by being able to bring on an previously out batter should it be required to support the not out batsman, the run chase started slowly with the batters exploiting some wayward Johnsonville bowling.   Highlight of the batting was two crisply hit fours by Laurence Birch, one a well timed cover drive, which had the crowd standing.  With only one wicket left, MacKenzie straight drove and the batters easily scampered through for two runs but then attempted a suicidal third run for MacKenzie to be run out.  Luckily in finishing the second run the Jaguars had just beaten the Johnsonville total.

Player of the day was Jaime Edwards for her three wickets.

In  one of the most exciting games this correspondent has been involved in the Jaguars total of 125 was overcome on the last ball of the Johnsonville innings.  Both teams played in an excellent spirit on a cold bleak Newlands pitch in what most spectators agreed that cricket was the winner on the day.

Alex Blacktop led the Jaguars batting effort with 41 runs (and 13 extras) off only 27 balls highlighted by two well struck sixes which had the crowds standing.  Alex's innings was unfortunately ended when the bowler deflected a well struck drive off MacKenzie Preston onto Alex's wicket as he dove to get back into the crease.  Alex looked well on the way to his maiden 50 and in the context of the overall game would have led to a Jaguar's win so well was he batting.  Unfortunately, although the batting was good by the other batters two other run outs limited the total runs.

The Jaguar bowling was accurate with only 10 wides and three no balls in the innings.  In the context of the high scoring game Jaime Edwards conceding six runs in her three overs was a highlight, but Laurence Birch, MacKenzie Preston, Toby Bishop and Alex Blacktop all bowled well in getting their wickets.

Player of the day was Alex Blacktop in his most impressive innings of the season.

The Jaguars had their largest win of the season scoring 129 runs in their 24 overs and then restricting the Onslow  team to 74 in reply.

The Jaguars batting effort was strong overall highlighted by some quick singles and an awareness of overthrows that kept the byes, and therefore the total accumulating.  Alex Blacktop opened with a well hit 25 runs and with Hugo Daily returning after retiring with a 4 2 4 4 off four balls in the last over the Jaguars achieved their highest score of the season to date. 

The Jaguar bowling was accurate with only 17 wides conceded in the innings. Highlight of the bowling was Willem Oppenhuis taking two wickets including Toby Bishop taking a catch as wicketkeeper in what was a very tidy effort behind the stumps.  All  the bowlers were tight with none of the Jaguar bowlers conceding more that 10 runs off their three overs. 

Player of the day was Willem Oppenhuis for his bowling and a good contribution in opening the batting.  Toby Bishop was awarded the Contribution Award for that well taken catch behind the stumps.

The Jaguars started the 2012 year with their first win of the season in a tight game against Mana. 

With excellent accurate bowling the Jaguar bowlers kept the Mana run scoring down, which seemingly, given this was the first game after the Christmas break, the players had spent a lot of time on the beach practicing their skills.  Alex Blacktop was impressive with five runs and two wickets off his three overs and Jaime Edwards led the tight bowling getting a wicket and conceding 4 runs off three overs.  MacKenzie Preston  only conceded five runs off his overs.

The Jaguar run chase started slowly with the first three Jaguar batters back in the shed with just 17 runs on the board.  Alex Blacktop played a
stabilising innings of 29 runs not out off only 33 balls to get the run chase started.  Laurence Birch closed out the innings with some accurate
strokes and some good running between the wickets with Matthew Edwards.

Player of the day was Laurence Birch for his batting contribution and involvement in the field.  Hugo Daily was awarded the Contribution Award
with a wicket and eight well timed.

An understrength Collegians Jaguars fought out an enjoyable exciting draw with Tawa, with Alex Blacktop taking an excellent caught and bowled on the last ball to ensure that Tawa did not overtake the Jaguars innings total.

With only five players available the Jaguar batted first under strict instructions from the coaches to treasure their wickets.  Alex continued his excellent batting for 19 before being well caught on the boundary, but all the batsmen contributed by retaining their wickets, taking advantage on the scoreboard of Tawa’s wides and no balls.

With only five bowlers, but supplemented by two Tawa fielders all the Jaguar bowlers had a good opportunity to bowl for extended periods.  Edward Mercer may have been wicketless but his six overs for 11 runs conceded really put the Tawa batmen under pressure.  Similarly, Matthew Edwards with 12 runs of five overs and one wicket, and Laurence with 12 runs off four overs bowled tightly with few wides or no-balls.

It came down to Tawa requiring one run off the last ball and Alex took that pressure catch to ensure the draw.

Player of the day was Matt Edwards for his wicket keeping in the first half of the innings, picking up a wicket, but particularly for sharp running when batting to ensure that the scoreboard kept ticking over.

Batting first the Lions put up a challenging total of 111 with some strong batting from the last two batters, after the Jaguars had the Lions at 61 for six wickets after 14 overs.  The Jaguar bowlers shared the wickets with Alex picking up two wickets for 18 runs.  Laurence Birch bowled tightly with a wicket for 10 runs off his three overs.

The Jaguars struggled early with two wickets down for seven runs but partnerships between Alex Blacktop and Jaime Edwards and then Laurence and Matthew Edwards built the Jaguars total.  The batting was dominated by Alex who scored an unbeaten 40, including three consequent fours and a well struck six that had the crowd standing.

Player of the day was Alex Blacktop for his bowling and batting and all round activity in the field.

Collegian Jaguars bowled first on a damp Grenada North field and bowled tightly to restrict the Onslow batters and limit the number of extras.  Jaime Edwards excelled with two wickets for 11 runs off four overs.  Matthew Edwards picked up two wickets as well, but all the bowlers performed with Mackenzie Preston only conceding 3 runs off two overs, Alex Blacktop conceding 6 runs off three overs and Willem Oppenhuis conceding 4 runs off two overs.

The Jaguars run chase never really gained momentum, with only Toby Bishop troubling the fielders with a well struck four.  The rest of the runs came off singles and wides conceded by the Onslow bowlers.

Player of the day was Toby Bishop for his batting and tight bowling performance.  He focused in the field and his speed in the field stopped a number of Onslow runs.