Napier Tech Old Boys retain national club cricket crown
The Jesse Ryder-coached "Texans" defended their NZCT National Club Cricket Championship club title yesterday, stunning previously unbeaten St Albans by five wickets in a low-scoring final in Auckland.
Allrounder Bronson Meehan took the first five-wicket bag of his career in the championship-winning performance, while Napier Tech 20-year-old Todd Watson was named Player of the Tournament.
Meehan, 29, who was named man of the match, claimed stunning figures of 5-16, including three maidens, off his 9.3 overs to help restrict Christchurch's St Albans to just 96 in a low-scoring yet tense NZCT National Club Cricket Championship final at Auckland's Cornwall Cricket Club today.
"Texans" captain Liam Rukuwai had won the toss and elected to bowl on a tacky surface in brilliantly fine conditions, just a half-hour delay necessary for dew to burn off the outfield after the previous day's heavy rain.
The match began ominously for Rukuwai, however, as the captain conceded 17 runs off the first over of the match as Dan Sharples raced out of the blocks for St Albans.
It was St Albans' fourth appearance in the Final, and they had got there undefeated as the only club to have beaten Napier Tech in the round robin. Yet they were destined to be bridesmaids yet again, as the trophy eluded them for a fourth time.
St Albans was bowled out in the 35th over, the opening breakthrough by NTOB paceman Stevie Smidt triggering a domino effect through the St Albans innings. But it was the spinners who profited with Meehan's 5-16 backed up by 2-13 off six overs from New Zealand Under 19 rep Todd Watson, who was later named Player of the Tournament.
Napier Tech's chase was not without its own wobbles, but Meehan and Watson chased down their target in 34.1 overs to claim the national club title for the third time (previous national crowns won in 2003 and 2018).
