Chairman

Look no further for a day of fun, food and T20 cricket!

 

Premiers

After a night of thunder and lightning, a fine morning greeted players at Devonport Domain for a One Day game against local rivals, Takapuna.
Skipper Michael Olsen finally won a toss and duly elected to bat. Takapuna turned to spin early and used three different spinners inside the first ten overs. The hosts were in trouble early when Takapuna skipper took a simple return catch to dismiss Stephen Baard.
North Shore’s rebuild was slow. Sam Hinds swept his way to a gritty 41 and Michael Olsen played boldly for 31 to get North Shore in a position to launch in the final twenty overs.
Unfortunately, another middle order collapse stopped any momentum as the prems lost 5/29. Late cameos by Gus McKenzie and Carl Brungar crept North Shore past 150 to a respectable score of 172 all out. Takapuna’s spinners claimed all ten wickets.
The slow and somewhat inconsistent nature of the wicket meant Shore’s total could have been a winning score.
Takapuna’s start mirrored North Shore’s – slow and steady. When Skipper Olsen decided to roll his arm over, his gamble paid off with the wicket of The Takapuna opener. 
Unfortunately wickets weren't coming and Taka batted responsibly ensuring they wouldn’t have similar struggles to North Shore’s during the middle overs. One opener added 78* to guide Taka home to a comfortable win with 14 overs to spare.
The Prems get their chance at revenge when they take on Taka at Onewa domain in the T20 comp this Thursday.

Reserves
Twas the 10th day before Christmas, when all through the ground
Not a creature was stirring, not even a hound.
The gear bags were hung by the changing room with care,
In hopes that St Madness soon would be there.

The players were nestled all snug by the sheds,
While visions of runs and wickets danced in their heads.
And the keeper in his trackies, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains from a long winter’s gap.

When out in the car park there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the sheds to see what was the matter.
Away to the doors I flew like a flash,
Waiting while lamenting all my hard earned spent cash.

The sun on the breast of the new-fallen rain,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the exposed drain.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature car, and 11 players in coloured gear.

With a little old driver, so unlively and full of sadness,
I knew in a moment it must be St Madness,
More rapid than snakes his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now, Simpson! Now, Bing! Now, Prancer and Whynn!
On, O'Neil! On, Cupid! on, Donner and Singh!
To the top of the clubhouse! To the top of the hall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
We met on the pitch, he threw a coin to the sky.
St Madness chose to have first crack with the bat,
Hoping and wishing that the wicket was flat.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the pitch
The prancing and pawing by a tent at each little hitch.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the wicket to bowl we were with a bound.

He was dressed all in dirt, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of stumps he had flung on his back,
Looking like a grade cricketer, just opening his gear pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the stubble on his chin was as grey as the snow.

The stump of a durry he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and quite the physique 
That would make other players feel relatively meek

He was athletic and lean, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had everything to dread.

He spoke many a word, and went straight to his work,
Barely filling the runs column, he then turned with a twerk,
Laying his finger aside of his nose,
Hoping for a nod from umpires, to send back some foes!

At the first sign of some rain coming down in a mist,
And sensing an opportunity that couldn't be dismissed,
His courage and wisdom he let out a bellow,
For he was no ordinary cricket playing fellow.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he dove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, lets share points and stay in top flight!"

But alas before they were able to escape,
Shore chased down the runs as is their trait,
And soon all that was able to be heard,
Was a team song that would scare off the wildest herd!

Shore win chasing down 115 from Waitakere.

Sportslink International Premier Reserve NSCC/TDCC
Our Sportslink International Premier Reserve women played at Melville Park on Saturday against Kumeu in their final T20 before Christmas.
Kumeu batted first and a fine innings of 102 off 69 from D Ramsay was the majority of Kumeus 182 runs where they finished four down at the end of their innings. Anna Browning took two wickets and Georgina Shanahan and Milly Yorke took one each.
Our chase got off to a slightly rocky start when Katie was bowled for 0 on the 3rd ball of the chase but this was to be the only wicket NSCC would lose. Anna joined Sam Petherick at the crease and together they chased down the target in 14 overs. Sam carried her bat finishing on 75* off 45 balls, including twelve 4's and one 6. Anna finished on 87* off 40 balls including sixteen 4s and 1 six.
The team go into the Christmas break second equal on the ladder with Cornwall Green and three points behind Parnell who are yet to have their BYE round. 
The team have a break now until Feb 2nd when they have a home game against Papatoetoe.

3rd Grade
North Shore 3rd grade were out at Ellerslie last Saturday on their final One-Dayer for the year, wanting to really finish our great half of the summer on top.
North won the toss again and elected to bat. The pitch looked like we were playing on an outfield but it was very hard and flat, perfect to set the tone early. North Shore got off to a flyer with James Ferris (first game for the club) smashing it to all parts of the park, putting on a batting clinic. at 1 for 100 after 10, James unfortunately fall short with 83 owing the team bulk beers. We got bowled out for 200. However, we were disappointed this wasn’t more after our great start but were confident of defending it.
It was relatively tame start, until Zac Watson stepped up in a big way, steam rolling the top order, all in the 7th over! Magnificent! “You wouldn’t read about it!” The over went .WW.WW Watto in the left of the picture finishing with 5/16 from his 8. Zac definitly took the game away from Ellerslie. This gave the opportunity for Captain Liam Jacobs to rip down some leggies, breaking a crucial partnership in the middle order. 1/22 from his three.
North shore completely on top throughout winning by 40 runs.