As frustrated as everyone has been with the continued cancellations early season due to adverse weather etc, this week's earthquakes once again brought everyone back to earth and we wish all those affected, especially in the Kaikoura/North Canterbury areas, all the best as they look to get families, homes and businesses back on track.

Not a great weekend had with only Senior A & 2nds once again getting a game and unfortunately both suffering losses. Here's hoping all grades are able find some game time when cricket resumes on Saturday 26th November.

Congratulations to James Carr (1605) who overtook Darren Leigh's 1603 Senior A One-Day runs on Saturday to become MPCC's leading runscorer in that format. Congratulations to his team mate Andrew Saunders whose wicket against Southern Districts was his 50th in the One-Day format, Pixie is the 4th bowler to have achieved this after Blair Wilmott (146), Daniel Seelen (84) and Hadyn Zwies (50). It also saw him move past Stan Woolliscroft (160) into 9th on the all-time wickets list with 161.

Saturday 19th November ...

Reminder that there is no adult or youth cricket on Saturday 19th November due to the Black Caps vs Pakistan Test being played in Chch at Hagley Oval.

MPCC Six-A-Side Tournament ...

The MPCC Six-A-Side has been scheduled for Sunday 11th December. This was a well attended and enjoyable event on the social calendar last season so get involved if you can. All those wishing to enter a team, play or captain should contact tournament organiser Joel Singer ASAP. Joel can be emailed at joelsinger60@hotmail.com or contacted via the usual channels.

Same rules apply as last season with a maximum of 1 Senior A player and at least 1 female player in each team.

Team Reports ...

MP Bishop Brothers Sen.A vs Southern Districts @ Edgar Mac 1 (1 Day) (Loss)

MPCC Bishop Brothers Sen A arrived to very wet conditions at home to Southern Districts in Round 4 of the One Day competition. The first order of the day was to get the buckets out and start scooping water from spots in the outfield so that there would be a game! After numerous delays and meetings play commenced at 1.30 which allowed a 36 over match. Southern won the toss and decided to bat first. The visitors started very cautiously as they faced ball after ball without troubling the scorers considerably. The opening bowlers Nathan Columbus and Daniel Seelen both bowled out their overs with some tight bowling whilst each taking a wicket a piece, with figures of 1-8 (8) and 1-9 (7) respectively. Andrew Saunders and Michael Beattie came on for the second spell before drinks and the tempo was much of the same. Southern were 23/3 at the 18 over mark. After drinks they looked to tick the score over, and Michael Beattie was able to capitalise on this with an eventful over including 3 wickets and 2 wides to put Southern in trouble at 29/6 in the 21st over. Southern then fought back and built a few partnerships with Matt Fielding leading the way with 38. Their tailenders chipped in significantly with scores of 13, 11*, and 19* from their number 8, 9, and 10 batsmen. Southern then posted a very defendable total of 110/8 from their 36 overs on what was a tough pitch with a slow outfield.

Merivale then opened up their chase with Rory Hawes and Ben Mayo. Rory was trapped lbw in the first over without troubling the scorers, which left Mayo and Carr to battle away against some tight bowling and lateral movement early on. Southern then took 2 wickets in quick succession taking Mayo and Carr both lbw leaving the score 23/3 from 9 overs. This sent in Andy Mayo and Mitch Dimond who got stuck in and built a partnership, with both playing positive strokes. Dimond then was bowled looking to hit over the top, 47/4. The reliable Andrew “Pixie” Saunders came in to join Andy Mayo and watched him bat brilliantly from the other end, holding together another partnership of 24 before Pixie hooked one straight to short square leg. 71/5 from 21 overs.. Southern then grabbed the momentum of the match taking the wickets of Andy Mayo (for a well compiled 28) and Duncan within the next 3 overs, leaving the score 78/7 with 12 overs left. Sam Gillespie and Beattie were able to consolidate again and at times looked comfortable, until Beattie drove one on the up straight to mid on. 96/8. MP then collapsed again with Sam nicking off in the next over leaving Seelen and Columbus with 15 to win from 6 overs. Columbus then attempted a back foot cover drive and spooned it in the air. MP all out for 102.

Overall, it was disappointing to give up so many vital runs at the end of the bowling innings and to lose our wickets in clumps. Southern bowled very tight and put a lot of pressure on our batsmen which earned them the win. This leaves MP with 2 wins and 2 losses with 2 left to play. Player of the day went to Michael Beattie with 4-21 off his 7 and 11 with the bat. We look forward to the challenge of Heathcote in a couple of weeks at Heathcote Domain. But until then we have some time to work on a few things, and go the Blackcaps!

Cheers, Ben Mayo.

MP Cason Kerbing 2nds vs St Albans @ Ilam 3 (Loss)

After a couple of pitch inspections, we agreed to start a 40-over game at 1pm. Saints won the toss and elected to bat on a decent, but green, pitch and a wet outfield. We started OK as Dave (1-31) picked up the opposition skipper in the fourth over, while Jacob Wilson bowled very tightly. Saints ticked along for a bit as the ball swelled up with the damp. James Eder replaced Dave and picked up the second wicket with the score at 44 in the 14th over. Chris McCloy replaced Jacob but struggled with the wet ball and so Craig Dacombe (1-14) took over, snaring a wicket via a good deep catch by Dan Fogden. After 5 good overs, Taylor McLellan replaced James and, after going for 7 off his first while working out how to hold the ball, he picked up a pair of wickets, both also caught by Foggy as he got through 6 overs, taking 2-18. Jacob came back on in place of Dakesy and finished off his 8 overs with an excellent 0-8 (having been 0-7 off 2). James (1-27) and Dave finished off. At the other end, Tribhuvan Sharma had been held back by the skipper’s scepticism about his ability to grip the ball but got the last five overs at one end, disproving the concerns as he picked up 3-17 from 5 overs, as well as inducing a run-out. Saints ended up 158-9 off their 40. Given how hard it was to keep the ball dry and in the right areas, this was a really good bowling and fielding effort. Credit to Steve Devereux who picked up a nick-off, stumping and run-out behind the stumps in a, largely, error-free set behind the stumps.

          We got off to a great start with the bat as Abhaya Paudel and Dakesy got us to 35 in the ninth over, aided by some wild bowling, before Abi played on for 8. Ash Reddy came and went and Foggy and Dakesy started building an innings before an unfortunate run-out sent Foggy back for 3 with the score at 51-3. This then became 51-5 as Taylor and James missed out, and 56-6 as Dakesy (6) returned. Devo whacked 11 before being caught; Sharma (2) still can’t charge; Jacob hit 6 off 4 before being caught at square leg; Dave blocked a ball to be not out; and Rosie’s hoick to cow neglected to make contact with the ball. We were thus 73 all out, in another extremely disappointing batting effort. Life’s not going to get any easier for batting, so it’s going to be crucial for nos. 1-11 to take responsibility for better efforts. There’s a lot of batting talent in this side so it’s a matter of application rather than ability.

          Dave M

All remaining grades were cancelled due to the inclement weather.

MPCC Subs for 2016/17 ...

• Mens Subs for Season 2016/17 … Men’s full subs to remain at $240 for a season if fully paid by 12 November, 2016 or if an AP has been established by 12 November, 2016. The club's bank account number is 03 0866 0269318 000, use your name and mention "subs" in the reference. Otherwise the subscription to be increased to $280 for late payment. ($120 for students and team captains, or $160 for late payment).
• Womens Subs for Season 2016/17 … Women’s full subs to remain at $130 for a season ($65 for students) if fully paid by 12 November, 2016 or if an AP has been established by 12 November, 2016. The club's bank account number is 03 0866 0269318 000, use your name and mention "subs" in the reference. Late payment would incur a further $40.

Internet Banking ... When paying your subs by Internet Banking ... The clubs bank account details are:

• Westpac, 03 0866 0269318 000, Merivale Papanui Cricket Club Inc
• When making a transfer please state your full name as a reference.

Facebook ... Both the Senior and Junior sections of MPCC can be found on Facebook ....

• Click Here for Merivale Papanui Cricket Club
• Click Here for Merivale Papanui Junior Cricket Club
• Be sure to "LIKE" both pages.

If you have any contributions or queries send us an email to mpcricket@xtra.co.nz