Team rue ‘disappointing’ semis loss

Wyndale captain Jeremy McLeod launches into a shot during his 24-run innings in a Southland...
Wyndale captain Jeremy McLeod launches into a shot during his 24-run innings in a Southland Cricket division one semifinal game against Central Western at Wyndham on Saturday. PHOTO: SANDY EGGLESTON
Wyndale have fallen 42 runs short of reaching a Southland Cricket final.

The team were all out for 124 in the 33rd over chasing a Central Western total of nine for 165 in the division one semifinal at Wyndham on Saturday.

Wyndale hosted the semifinal after finishing second on the table in the competition.

Team member Logan McLellan said given the team’s performance throughout the season it was "disappointing" not to win.

The Central total was a good score but not beyond reach, McLellan said.

"If we’d batted decently we would have got that, really.

"They bowled pretty well and fielded well and we just gave the wickets away a wee bit too much."

Opening batsmen McLellan and Asher Ratnam made a good start to the run chase and survived a runout and a couple of dropped catches.

However, once Ratnam was bowled at the end of the seventh over and McLellan was bowled a ball later when the score was 33, the wickets started to fall regularly.

"That got us on the back foot and we just couldn’t score enough runs in the middle and that ended costing us the game," McLellan said.

Ratnam top-scored on 25.

"He’s a fairly aggressive player. He doesn’t muck around out there," McLellan said.

A "wee cameo" from Hadley McLeod, who came in at number 10, looked to give the team an outside chance but it was not to be.

He made 20 runs off 16 balls before being bowled.

The Central bowling was tight and seven of the Wyndale batsmen were bowled out.

During the first innings Wyndale fielded and bowled well.

"Josh Bucknell got a couple of run outs."

Connor Poyntz-Roberts was the pick of the bowlers, returning 1 for 18 off six overs.

Jeremy and Devon McLeod bagged two wickets each.

In the division two semifinals, Albion lost by by nine wickets to Appleby Cannons and Waikoikoi B fell 75 runs short of Marist Reserves’ total.

sandy.eggleston@theensign.co.nz