It was with pleasure that The Willows Club was able to host the above two teams. This fixture formed part of the New Zealand Over-50s warm- up for the pending and inaugural Over-50s World Cup to be held in Sydney from mid-November to early December 2018. It was also the first occasion that pink balls had been used at The Willows.
Players were welcomed on a northwest day and our visitors were quite surprised with winds rising to in excess of 100kms an hour by mid-afternoon and then dropping to zero within a matter of moments.
It was agreed that the New Zealand team would bat first and at the conclusion of the allowed 45 overs they were 185 for 9. Noteworthy partnerships exceeding 50 were produced by Robbie Kerr and Nigel Fletcher, and then Robbie with Dave Fulton. Richard Petrie also batted well towards the end of the innings scoring 21 off 16 balls.
In reply, the Riverina team struggled against a very steady bowling attack. A highlight for visiting player Peter Stimpson, an ex South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league representative, was hitting Willows member, Andrew Nuttall, for two huge sixes. One carried the pavilion from the far side of the block. An estimated shot exceeding 100 metres. Despite this excellent innings Riverina were dismissed in the 40th over for 132. Left arm spinners Hamish Kember and Andrew Nuttall dominated the dismissals.
New Zealand Over-50s 185/9
Craig Gibb 20, Nigel Fletcher 20, Robbie Kerr 55, Dave Fulton 33, Richard Petrie 21, Ian Grigg 4/25
Riverina 132
Pete Stimpson 45, E Koetz 21, T Willis 29, Andrew Nuttall 4/31, Hamish Kember 3/9