ŌTOROHANGA Raptors lineup from start of the season. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The Ōtorohanga Raptors have started 2023 in fine style with an outright win.
Having fallen short at the final hurdle in their one-day cricket competition when they were beaten by Hamilton Old Boys at Seddon Park on December 21, the team wanted to make amends.
In the final, the Raptors bowled incredibly well to dismiss their opponents for 167 with Ethan Gray starring with four wickets, however, they were bundled out for 53 with the bat.
Putting that to the side, the team regained their focus and took on Hinuera in the opening round of the Waikato Valley two-day competition on January 21, with an outright victory in Matamata.
The opening week of play was abandoned due to the leftovers of Cyclone Hale, meaning the outright points would be allocated on what happened in the first innings of the contest between the teams.
Fortunately for the Raptors, it went well.
They were in trouble early at 25-3 with some disciplined bowling putting the team’s batting under pressure. However, a strong 94-run partnership from Jasper Presswell and Jerem Wylie saw the visitors gain the ascendency.
English import Presswell was stumped for 47 just short of his first 50 for the club, while Wylie reached the milestone before he was caught for 57.
Gray added an elegant 19, while Presswell’s brother, Charlie, hit an unbeaten 27.
Those efforts helped them through to a respectable 202/8 from 55.1 overs.
In the field, a sharp performance saw Ōtorohanga bowl Hinuera out for 51.
Raptors’ veteran Leighton Parsons had his outswinger going beautifully and picked up three wickets opening the bowling, while fellow new ball bowler Jacob Hunt also showed his talent with an impressive three wicket haul.
He hit good lengths and was hard to get away.
Shaun Beattie and Gray were the other bowlers used and both picked up wickets, while Jasper Presswell produced another Jonty Rhodes-like showing in the field to nab his sixth run-out of the season.
This weekend, the team tackle St Paul’s in another two-day game with the contest to be held at St Paul’s Collegiate, one of the nicest grounds in the competition.
A win this weekend over the schoolboys will put the Raptors in a good position to top their pool.
The following weekend they will take on Cambridge Senior A.
