Karori Wildcats 233/2, Adam Eggleton 102* (54), Alex Hampshire 54* (31)
North City Lancers 120/6, Tom Worthington 3-18, Matt Couper 1-12
After a slightly slow start, Adam and Will put the foot down to take the Cats to 54 from 6 overs. Will’s departure for 29 (23) brought together a huge 125 run second wicket partnership between Adam and Alex. They peppered the boundary was seeming ease. Alex hit three 6’s in one over once his eye was in, and never looked back.
After bringing up his century Adam pulled an unCateristic move, by retiring. The score was 187 from 16 overs. Alex followed suit and retired once he reached his 50. This brought Wortho to the crease, and was unlucky to pick out the Lancer with the safest hands on his second ball.
Tom and Tim finished the innings strong, with 16* (11) and 7*(4), respectively.
With plenty of runs to play with the Wildcats were looking to finish it early and head to Co-Op. We unfortunately had to bowl out the full 20 overs in the field. Nando struck first in the 3rd over and a returning Michael Fairless was rewarded with the plumbest LBW (hitting the back foot directly in front of middle).
Tom Wortho was intense as a first change bowler. He induced a low aerial shot to square-leg, and lesser Worthington did the rest with his safe mitts. The next over he was on a hatrick, with Alex taking a stunner to his right behind the stumps, followed by a simpler repeat affair.
The Cats then introduced a 7-man slip cordon for the remainder of the over. Matty Swoops and Warwick each picked up a wicket too: Matty smashing the stumps, and Warwick Small’s deceptive line and length creating a catch.
Will bowled tight lines to constrain the Lancers, and they never got close. Good times were had at our second home, the Cop-Op.
The Cats are now sitting in outright second on the table, and will host old rivals East Indies back at the Fortress (KP #5) next week.