King’s Cricket: too strong for inexperienced Rangitoto College

Rangitoto chose to bat after winning the toss and none of their top five batsmen could reach double figures as the King’s opening duo of Muhammad Abbas and Louie Anderson bowled a probing line and length. When these two experienced pacers were given a break Rangitoto were in tatters at 19/4 with Anderson been the main beneficiary of an outclassed top order as he picked up all four wickets. Abbas, on the other hand was just too good to pick up any wickets and the batsmen had no idea how to deal with his impressive spell of swing and seam bowling.

Nick Tapper and the skipper Seb Macdonald replaced the opening pacemen and the torrid examination continued. These two claimed one wicket in their spell and the hosts got to 36/5 at the end of the 20^th over. Patrick Maher’s short-pitched bowling was not impactful on this lifeless wicket and the spinners in the form of Toby Irvine and Max Chaplin claimed the last five wickets between them. Irvine had earned his coveted maroon baggy at the start of this match and fittingly claimed two wickets as the senior spinner in this well-balanced attack.

King’s fielding was of a very high standard and this will be crucial against tougher opposition over the coming weeks when the margin for error will be minimal. Tom Paranthoiene, the keeper, was almost flawless today as he claimed three wickets, including one smart stumping off Irvine. He conceded just one bye in 33.3 overs and is peaking at the right time as tougher opposition await.

King’s would have expected to reach the required victory target without losing any wickets, but the openers were both guilty of playing expansively, too early, and paid the price. At 7/2 in the 2^nd over, both openers had been dispatched and mild panic would have set in. Josh Olliver and Muhammad Abbas took control of the run chase and played each ball on its merit and ran the singles with clinical timing until the latter was cruelly adjudged to be short of his crease with the score at 32/3 in the 8^th over. Karl Wallace joined Olliver and both combined with care and class on a tricky wicket to take King’s to victory in the 14^th over. 

King’s win by 7 wickets