Veterans Cricket Wellington (VCW) Over 60s started their campaign for the 2024 Over 60s National Championship titles with matches at Lower Hutt’s Fraser Park on Sunday, 10 March.
The 40 over matches against Nearest Neighbour, Central Districts, involved the Division 1 side and Division 2 sides.
Both games saw CD bat first and unfortunately the Wellington sides came up agonisingly short, with CD prevailing by 6 runs in the Div 1 match and by 1 run in the Div 2 match. Adding insult to injury in the Div 2 match, CD received 5 Penalty Runs when the ball hit the keepers helmet.
Match scores –
Division 1
CD 181 – 7, Scott McCallum 7 overs 2 for 17, Richard Calkin 7 overs 2 for 15.
Wgton 176 – 8, Bryan Lilley 39, Andrew Watson 36, Carl Adams 29.
Division 2
CD 195- 5 R. (Nagu) Naguleswaran 7 overs 2 for 38
Wgton 194 – 5 David Vance 40 Retired, Mark Hammond 40 Retired, Jeremy Morley 35, Dave Harle 33, David Blue 17* off 9 balls at the end.
Both sides now head to Napier for the remainder of the campaign, in what is the 8th Over 60s National Tournament, with games against Otago, Canterbury, Auckland and Northern Districts starting on Sunday 17th through to Thursday 21st March.
Over 60s debutants are Tim Barton, Richard Boon, Eddie Burns, Rupert Crichton, Rob Hamilton, Ron Heywood, Scott McCallum and Nagu Naguleswaran.
The Div 1 squad is
Brent Stephen ( c ), Carl Adams (vc), Richard Boon, Eddie Burns, Richard Calkin, Rupert Crichton, Kevin Goldsbury, Rob Hamilton, Ron Heywood, Terry Hills, Duncan Hutchinson, Bryan Lilley, Scott McCallum and Andrew Watson.
The Div 2 squad is
Steve Whitfield ( c ), Dave Harle (vc), Tim Barton, David Blue, Paul Donnellan, Neil Gray, Mark Hammond, Jeremy Morley, R (Nagu) Naguleswaran, Khandu Patel, David Vance and Evan Watkin.
At the conclusion of the Tournament in Napier, 3 sides will be selected to represent NZ at the Australian Over 60 State Championships to be held in Brisbane in November and two sides will be selected to represent NZ at the Australian Over 65 State Championships in Mackay, North Queensland in September.
Additionally, there will be selection of the Over 70s side to compete at the Australian Over 70s State Championships in Dubbo, NSW, in November.
A number of umpires, including Charaka Ranasinghe, Kiran Challa and John Ford, are accompanying the Wellington contingent, as are two scorers Graham Chote, (out with a broken wrist) and Kathy Dent. This reinforces that Veterans Cricket provides opportunity for players, umpires, scorers and administrators to stay engaged or re-engage in our game.
This opportunity exists not only in NZ and Australia, but also globally with Carnivals held regularly in Asia, North America, Europe as well as bi-ennial World Cups.
If interested in becoming involved in Over 40, Over 50, Over 60 or Over 70 Cricket within the wider Wellington region, email d.harle56@gmail.com
Article added: Tuesday 12 March 2024
