18/11/2025
Kaimai Cricket Club vs Seddon Cricket Club Battle of the Kaimais Trophy
A wonderful opening season match between Kaimai CC and Seddon CC occurred at Pemberton Park, Greerton on Sunday 17th Nov.
The “Battle of the Kaimai’s” moved to Pemberton due to a wet Matapihi ground and was played in fine conditions on a solid grass track and fast outfield. Seddon Skipper Leighton Parsons won the toss and elected to bat first and Kaimai set to the task with Alan McMurdo and Tim Marra opening the bowling and effectively containing Seddon’s opening pair of Parsons and Henwood. The 1st wicket fell to Big Al and a wicket each to Skipper Ben Warren and Nick Shoston had Seddon 3 down and things looking favourable.
However, massive carnage then occurred with Seddon’s big swinging Jono Single lighting up the game by clubbing anything within reach over the smallish Pemberton boundaries and raised a century off 50 odd balls. Jono hit 127no off 63 balls (11 fours & 9 sixes) and his batting partner Chris Keech kindly mirrored the opportunity making 81 off 33 balls, including 8 sixes. These two took Seddon to a whopping 311/5 off the allotted 35 overs. The Seddon batsman grateful of the kind assistance of the Kaimai’s fielders, who showed generosity in allowing them to be dropped 4 or 5 times but then why spoil the magnificent belting that was taking place!
Kaimai’s opening pair of Tim Marra 27 (24) (debut) and Rory Brown 28 (15) got the team off to a flying start with 51 runs of 31 balls and looked right in the game until Rory’s kids shelled out “Hit us a catch Dad” and so he unfortunately hit it to a Seddon player instead! Too brief appearances at the crease by Kaimai’s No.3 and No.5 left local old boy Ben Lind 110 (65) and Big Al McMurdo to save the day. A solid rebuild and 51 run partnership ensued before Big Al departed and Benny was joined by debutante Andrew Yaxley 20 (22) and they put 87 runs. The batting effort for Kaimai belonged to Benny Lind though where he registered a well-crafted maiden century for Kaimai cc. Into the history books for Mr Lind as Kaimai’s 1st club centuryon record. The team recording a very respectable 275/9 in reply losing by 36 runs.
A big mention must go to Alan McMurdo for his production of the magnificent new trophy for the “Battle of the Kaimai’s”. Thanks to the Greerton‘s David (Danger) Kawan for organising the ground and clubrooms and Kaimai’s mainstays, Richard Kane and Jason Dovey with their normal above and beyond efforts and it was great to have a few more new debutants in Louis Boshoff, Murali Mohanamurali, Tim Marra and Andrew Yaxley.
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