Parnell Cricket Club Incorporated - Established 1858 Update No. 203 – Test Matches Resurrected & A New TV Commentator Henry Darrow being interviewed again yesterday by 1 NEWS’ Michelle Prendiville PER 1 NEWS’ SPORTS REPORT – 6 pm 11 FEBRUARY (from TV 1’s website): “Sitting in attendance at the Eden Park outer oval last week, a few young fans were discussing the impressive knock of Wellington Firebirds’ Finn Allen with 1 NEWS’ Michelle Prendiville. Despite Allen leading the Firebirds to victory over the Auckland Aces with an impressive 75 off 33 balls, Henry Darrow noted that the knock didn’t quite stack up to the efforts of White Ferns star Sophie Devine. “Not better than Sophie Devine but still pretty good,” he said, referring to Devine’s record breaking 108 off 38 balls last month in the Women’s Super Smash. That comment went viral, receiving praise from sports stars to Members of Parliament, and highlighted the growth and influence of the women’s game with the younger generation. The young Darrow could not believe the response when he caught up with 1 NEWS again today. "It's weird because I say something and then next minute I've gone viral." But praise was not all he received. Prior to her Super Smash elimination final clash at the same ground today, Sophie Devine c ame and met the youngster, gifting him one of her Wellington Blaze playing shirts. "I was was really humbled by Henry’s comments," Devine said. "This is what we want from the next generation coming up. Just applauding cricketers, it doesn’t matter if they’re male or female." A starstruck Darrow said the shirt would be going straight on the wall and said he would always "cherish this moment". Sophie Devine presenting Henry with the Wellington Blaze shirt and Henry, wearing the shirt and concluding the interview Test Matches Resurrected Early last season experienced journalist George Dobell (Times, Wisden, ESPNcricinfo), in a podcast, accused NZ of preparing poor pitches. Dobell said: “pitches like this and the one for the first test in Mount Maunganui are helping to kill this form of the game, as spectators vote with their feet and stay away.” That was following the NZ/Black Caps’ win against England by an innings and 65 runs at Bay Oval and, in the game in question at Seddon Park, had a very credible draw. This after England had a 1st innings lead of 101 thanks to Rory Burns’ 101 and Joe Root’s 226. Later in the season, 2019/20, and after 3 disastrous Tests in Australia, NZ/Black Caps went on to play Tests vs India winning both – by 10 wickets at the Basin Reserve and 7 at Hagley Park. This season – 4 Tests played here vs West Indies and Pakistan with 3 won by an innings and 1 by 101 runs. New Zealand Killing Test cricket? Hardly, we are winning and Test matches here and overseas are on an amazing resurgence. Some incredible games in recent weeks – India’s superb series win over Australia, Pakistan beating South Africa, West Indies scoring 395 to beat Bangladesh (Kyle Mayers 210* on debut) and now England’s wins over Sri Lanka and now India. Scintillating, compulsive viewing all of it! George Dobell does have a point – New Zealanders weren’t attending Tests in 2019/21 and the bulk of the spectators were from the Barmy Army, Howzat and similar UK groups. With the further successes of the Black Caps, and better scheduling of the Tests, our crowds are growing. May the Black Caps continue to win their Tests and that spectators flock to give them the support that they very much deserve. We should make the most of it - at least, in these Covid 19 times, we here in NZ can attend these games. Elsewhere overseas it is so sad to see Tests, in fact any cricket, played in vast, empty stadia! Club Matches – Saturday, 6 February Men’s Premier Grade - Jeff Crowe Cup Round 7 (last of the Round Robin) – vs Suburbs New Lynn at Ken Maunder Pk 1. PARNELL 103/10 (37.5) Flynn McGregor-Sumpter 25 (61), Fanie de Villiers 27 (26) Dean van Deventer 18 (46), S Devereaux 2/32 (7), A Ashok 4/20 (10o 4m), D Watson 2/16 (6) SUBURBS NEW LYNN 104/4 (21.5) S Martin 30 (36), M Barry 28* (37), Nikith Perera 2/34 (7) Aniket Parikh 2/14 (5) RESULT: Suburbs NL won by 6 wickets Waitangi Weekend and leading batsmen Ben Rae and Andy Lane were not available. Nor were Aces Mark Chapman, Ben Horne, Ollie Pringle and Will Somerville. Fortunately, at top of the Table with 15 points and NRR of +1.5 - virtually unassailable and a Semi-Final place assured, our Selectors chose to rely on our all rounders rather than bolster the batting. The Selectors’ faith was not rewarded! Our allrounders can bat – as proven previously – but not this time!! Certainly disappointing especially as our batting downfall was due to spin – a weakness going back several seasons. Schoolboy Adi Ashok is a leggie of great promise - NZ U19, Auckland A – plus the experienced offies of Dane Watson. These spinners were too much for us and, with only 104 to chase, Suburbs NL cantered to a 6 wicket win. OUTCOME Despite this loss our Pres still topped the Table. North Shore equaled us with 15 points but our final NRR of +0.584 was considerably superior to their -0.171. Semi Finals – 1st plays 4th, 2nd plays 3rd – therefore: SEMI FINALS Sunday, 21 Feb. from 11.00 am Parnell vs Cornwall at Shore Road Reserve 1. North Shore vs Howick Pakuranga at North Shore Domain 1. FINAL Sunday, 7 March from 11.00 am details and venue t.b.a. Hedley Howarth Trophy - Two Day Championship recommences this Weekend – Saturday & Sunday Remember that we/Parnell are current holders of this Two Day Championship. However, we are lagging at 5th on the Points Table after 3 rounds. Suburbs NL leads with 55 points, Takapuna 2nd on 52.2 – we are on 26, way behind. The next two games are crucial to our defence of the Trophy – the draw till the end of the Season:Shore Road – Saturdays except where stated: Round 4. 13 & Sunday 14 Feb. Parnell vs Takpuna at Onewa Domain 1. Round 5. 20 & 27 Feb. Parnell vs Suburbs NL at Shore Road Reserve 1. Round 6. 6 & 13 March Parnell vs Grafton United at Shore Road Reserve 1. Round 7. 20 & 27 March Parnell vs Papatoetoe at Papatoetoe Rec. 1. Women’s Premier Grade Our team had no games the past two weeks. This Saturday, 13 February, the Parnell games are: Women’s Premier: Pearl Dawson Trophy – T20 Round 8. vs Howick Pak. at Lloyd Elsmore 11am 9. vs Cornwall at Lloyd Elsmore 3pm Points: Howick Pak. 15, Takapuna 12, Cornwall 9 (NRR +0.674), Parnell 9 (NRR +0.398), AUCC 6, Papatoetoe 3 Men’s Premier Reserves Saturday, 6 February Round 7 – vs Takapuna at Shore Road Rserve 1. TAKAPUNA 186/10 (49) J Murray 37 (49), F Goodley-Hollister 44 (71), S Singh 33 (61), Pankaj Kumar 2/45 (9), Jack Parsons 2/22 (9), Giacomo Lamplough 2/11 (5), KV Prakash 2/31 (9), Nathan Robinson 2/17 (3) PARNELL 188/5 (31.3) Will Ormiston 50 (80), Nathan Robinson 58 (38), KV Prakash 26 (41), Quinn Sorensen 26 (17) RESULT: Parnell won by 5 wickets This very solid win takes us to top of the Pool 1. Points Table and Parnell meets Papatoetoe in the Semi Final on Sunday 21 February. Two Day, Presidents Cup, games resume this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 13 & 14 February and meets Suburbs New Lynn on Shore Road Reserve no. 1 from 11 am. Note that Parnell is 8th on the Points Table The Reserves Two Weeks Ago: Yes, the guy who painted the park bench has a lot to answer for! Women’s Premier Reserve Grade Our team had no game for some weeks but the T20 Major Championship resumes tomorrow. Saturday, 13 February, Parnell plays Cornwall at Melvile Park 2. Men’s Third Grade Saturday, 6 February Round 7 – vs Grafton United at Victoria Pk 3. GRAFTON UNITED 253/10 (44.5) A Narula 56 (105), I Karunatilaka 82 (85), H Hobson 53 (17) Simon Walker 2/16 (4), Henry Clarke 2/41 (7), Josh Milne 2/65 (9) PARNELL 167/10 (34.4) Matt James 65 (48), Cormac McMahon 29 (29), Simon Walker 22* (14), A Narula 4/18 (7), P Garlick 3/33 (7) RESULT: Grafton United won by 86 runs The Team finished 7th of 8 in the One Dayers so will not be competing in the Semi Final. Two Day games resume this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 13 & 14 February and meets Howick Pakuranga on Orakei Domain no. 1 from 11 am. Note that Parnell is 6th (of 8) on the Two Day Points Table Men’s Sixth Grade – Our Fourths/“Prunes” Saturday, 6 February Round 7 – vs Takapuna at Orakei Domain 1.. TAKAPUNA 110/10 (32.4) Nandan Gajjar 2/26 (5), Pawan Kharel 3/14 (5), Awsiya Syed 2/17 (5) PARNELL 111/7 (34.4) Rudi Bisschoff 43 (74) RESULT: Parnell won by 3 wickets Prunes’ opening bat of 2 weeks ago Presidents’ Grade No Presidents’ Grade games were played over the two holiday weekends. This Weekend We Farewell Huss and Alex Hussain Hanif Alex Smith Rather sadly we farewell both Huss and Alex this weekend. Huss, our Director of Cricket has been shoulder tapped and is taking up a position at Sport NZ.