Molyneux Park got an endorsement yesterday from a swag of former Black Caps.
A New Zealand Cricket Players Association masters side got first-hand experience of the pitch during a twenty/20 match against an Otago Country selection.
The masters side, which included Mark Greatbatch, Ewen Chatfield, Roger Twose, Kerry Walmsley and Geoff Allott scored 144 off 19 overs, for three, while the Otago Country team scored 143 off 20 overs.
New Zealand Cricket suspended Molyneux Park's warrant of fitness in November last year and transferred Otago's twenty/20 game on December 29 against Northern Districts from Alexandra to the University Oval, in Dunedin.
It said a delay in finding a permanent turf manager was the problem. A new groundsman, Andrew Douglas, was appointed the same week the warrant was suspended.
Yesterday's Festival of Cricket included a coaching clinic for junior cricketers in the morning, followed by the game in the afternoon. About 300 people attended the game.
Asked afterwards for his verdict on the ground, masters team captain Greatbatch said it certainly came up to scratch.
"The grounds are beautiful - all they need is a bit more cricket played on them," he said.
It was a good effort from the local side as well, Greatbatch added.
Chatfield said the wicket played well "and there's nothing too wrong with the outfield either - it was nice to field on."
Both the wicket and outfield were very good, he said.
Alexandra man Blair Jenkins gained a place on the masters side by winning a radio competition. He was made very welcome by his new team-mates and bowled three overs.
"I've had an awesome afternoon," Jenkins said, adding that his last cricket match, for the Central-Western club in Southland, was "quite some time ago".
These days, his involvement is mainly as coach for his son's year 3-4 side.
The coaching clinic, held by the top-class players in the morning, was well supported and valuable for the budding young cricketers, he said.
