AARON GOILE
Last updated 07:32, March 15 2016
Last updated 07:32, March 15 2016
Tempers flared at the Kaipaki Oval on Saturday during a Waikato Valley Champions Trophy club cricket match between Kaipaki and Otorohanga.
The home side won a thrilling final-round match by three runs to book a meeting with St Paul's Collegiate School in this weekend's two-day final, but there were farcical scenes which put a blight on the contest.
Waikato Valley Cricket is awaiting an umpire's report on the incidents - most notably the one which saw an Otorohanga batsman swipe a Kaipaki bowler in the face when the former was given out lbw.
It was the worst of several unsavoury incidents on the park, with both teams not shy of firing verbals.
READ MORE: Finalists all but confirmed
Otorohanga captain Leighton Parsons said it was disappointing that such an exciting game was overshadowed by one incident, and that his side absolutely don't condone such behaviour.
"There was definitely contact to move him out of the way," said Parsons, who was at the non-striker's end at the time.
"I'm sure something will come of that, because contact with another player is completely against everything the game's [about]. That's that emotion boiling over with the occasion.
"He'll be disappointed, definitely, with how much he over-reacted at that. Well he is, I know that for a fact. So whatever the consequences may be, I'm sure he'll accept, and take on the chin I suppose."
A Facebook post from the Otorohanga Cricket Club hinted at the incident.
" A number of controversial decisions led to boil over in emotions from both teams as the game went to the wire," it said.
The home side won a thrilling final-round match by three runs to book a meeting with St Paul's Collegiate School in this weekend's two-day final, but there were farcical scenes which put a blight on the contest.
Waikato Valley Cricket is awaiting an umpire's report on the incidents - most notably the one which saw an Otorohanga batsman swipe a Kaipaki bowler in the face when the former was given out lbw.
It was the worst of several unsavoury incidents on the park, with both teams not shy of firing verbals.
READ MORE: Finalists all but confirmed
Otorohanga captain Leighton Parsons said it was disappointing that such an exciting game was overshadowed by one incident, and that his side absolutely don't condone such behaviour.
"There was definitely contact to move him out of the way," said Parsons, who was at the non-striker's end at the time.
"I'm sure something will come of that, because contact with another player is completely against everything the game's [about]. That's that emotion boiling over with the occasion.
"He'll be disappointed, definitely, with how much he over-reacted at that. Well he is, I know that for a fact. So whatever the consequences may be, I'm sure he'll accept, and take on the chin I suppose."
A Facebook post from the Otorohanga Cricket Club hinted at the incident.
" A number of controversial decisions led to boil over in emotions from both teams as the game went to the wire," it said.
Kaipaki captain Dean Busch confirmed the contact wasn't a punch and played down the rest of the ill-feeling during the match, which seemed to be escalated by players disagreeing with decisions of the player umpires at square leg.
"All of your standard player-umpire-type incidents, and nothing that wouldn't have happened week in and week out on cricket fields all around the country," he said.
Both skippers said the good thing was everyone shook hands and had a drink together afterwards, with any tension left on the park.
It was a game which ebbed and flowed and came to a stunning finish.
Kaipaki posted 225 all out in 52.3 overs, leaving Otorohanga 53 overs to chase their target.
Parsons (70) had his side on track but when Dylan Griffin (3-37 off eight) trapped Shaun Beattie to make it 183-6, it triggered a collapse, where Otorohanga lost 3-3, with Griffin also taking the wicket of Parsons.
Otorohanga's No 9 Bryan King (19) and No 10 Kaylam Singh (15) hung in for a 34-run stand to put their team within just four runs of victory, and when King was bowled by Brendan Flegg it was 222-9 and the tension ramped even further.
No 11 James Teki joined Singh, and with all nine fielders sent to the boundary Singh constantly hit to the men, before slicing one to Griffin at deep point to end the drama.
"All of your standard player-umpire-type incidents, and nothing that wouldn't have happened week in and week out on cricket fields all around the country," he said.
Both skippers said the good thing was everyone shook hands and had a drink together afterwards, with any tension left on the park.
It was a game which ebbed and flowed and came to a stunning finish.
Kaipaki posted 225 all out in 52.3 overs, leaving Otorohanga 53 overs to chase their target.
Parsons (70) had his side on track but when Dylan Griffin (3-37 off eight) trapped Shaun Beattie to make it 183-6, it triggered a collapse, where Otorohanga lost 3-3, with Griffin also taking the wicket of Parsons.
Otorohanga's No 9 Bryan King (19) and No 10 Kaylam Singh (15) hung in for a 34-run stand to put their team within just four runs of victory, and when King was bowled by Brendan Flegg it was 222-9 and the tension ramped even further.
No 11 James Teki joined Singh, and with all nine fielders sent to the boundary Singh constantly hit to the men, before slicing one to Griffin at deep point to end the drama.
"The Collision and Repairs Otorohanga Raptors have gone down by just 3 runs in yesterday's must win encounter against Kaipaki. Played in near perfect conditions at the picturesque Kaipaki oval, the Raptors bowled first to have Kaipaki all out for 225 in the 53rd over. Leg Spin bowler Sunil Singh was again the chief destroyer taking 4 wickets. Leighton Parsons chipped in with 3 and Bryan King 2. D Bradley top scored with 53 while H Botha made a valuable 49no.
In reply the Raptors got off to a quick start with Scott Mouat scoring quickly off the new ball. Ahead of the required run rate, regular wickets kept the game in the balance. A number of controversial decisions led to boil over in emotions from both teams as the game went to the wire. Despite this, a fantastic game of cricket ended with the last wicket caught on the boundary and The Raptors losing their first game of the season and not making the two day final next week. Kaipaki will play St Pauls. " Scorecards attached.
In reply the Raptors got off to a quick start with Scott Mouat scoring quickly off the new ball. Ahead of the required run rate, regular wickets kept the game in the balance. A number of controversial decisions led to boil over in emotions from both teams as the game went to the wire. Despite this, a fantastic game of cricket ended with the last wicket caught on the boundary and The Raptors losing their first game of the season and not making the two day final next week. Kaipaki will play St Pauls. " Scorecards attached.