Old Boys' Newsletter Term I

2001 PNBHS Cricket Tour Reunion

   2001 Cricket Reunion  by PNBHS

In early February we welcomed the 2001 1st XI Cricket Tour team back to school.  It was great to catch up and hear many of the stories that were bantered around throughout the day. The boys started by attending the full school assembly with Luke Toynbee addressing assembly. A 30 over entertaining cricket game was then played against a Rector's XI, featuring Paul Gibbs and Peter Truter as the officiating umpires, they were the coach and tour leaders of a marked tour to Singapore and South Africa. A range of talents were displayed out on the field with no serious injuries reported, but I’m sure as well as a few sore heads, there were sore bodies on Saturday morning. Friday night saw the boys gather at College House for a team dinner, tour reminiscing was a large part of the conversations, especially as it was this tour that saw a considerable number of the touring party suffering from food poisoning in Singapore and ending up in hospital in Cape Town.

Match Report: Paul Gibbs

As part of the reunion celebrations for the 2001 Cricket Tour team, members of that team played a Rector’s XI on the #1 grass pitch at school on Friday.

As is becoming the norm in these fixtures, the game was 24 overs per team. The batsmen batted in pairs for four overs and the team total was docked five runs each time a wicket was taken.

The 2001 team was Luke Beardmore, Craig Clare, Jarred Cunningham, Marcus Emery, Scott Larsen, Dave Meiring, Scott Robson, Rob Sheary and Luke Toynbee. Current PNBHS staff members Chris Higgie and Steven Vindriis bolstered the lineup.

The Rector’s XI was Saim Ahmed, Max Barber, Cameron Caffell, Tom Collier, Jacob Duker, Thomas Fowell, Sam Kennett, Rian Lyver, Daniel McDougal, Riveen Samarasekara, George Simpson, Michael Watkins and Karlis Zvagulis.

The 2001 team batted first and scored 194 but lost eight wickets. Consequently, their total was adjusted to 154. Scott Larsen smashed his way to the top score of 38 and he was still embellishing his shot making, and celebrating his success, at midnight. Robert Sheary scored 26, Jarred Cunningham 20, Scott Robson 19 and Dave Meiring 18.

For the Rector’s XI, Michael Watkins, who delivers left arm “wrong'uns”, was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 16. Michael also pouched two difficult catches rounding off an excellent contribution in the field. Rian Lyver claimed 2 for 25 while Sam Kennett conceded just 9 runs off his two overs.

In reply, the Rector’s XI made a brisk start which saw them ahead of the run rate after the first two partnerships. Sam Kennett, Daniel McDougall and Rian Lyver all dominating with the bat during this time. However, turning back the clock and producing some demanding bowling, Luke Beardmore (2 wickets) , Luke Toynbee (2), Marcus Emery (3) and Rob Sheary (3) effectively ended any hope the Rector’s XI had of victory. During this period Sam Kennett, sub fielding for the reunion team, took three fantastic catches including one spectacular effort which saw him running in at full pace from the long-on boundary and diving forward to take a low catch, all the while tumbling athletically to avoid the hard edges of the artificial cricket pitch in the outfield. Tom Collier, batting in the last partnership, scored 18 runs but it was a case of too little, too late.

The Rector’s XI scored 151 runs but lost 16 wickets to record a final total of 71 in reply to 154.

A win to the 2001 Cricket Tour Team by 83 runs.

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the team back at PNBHS.