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However, in clubs and schools around the country a quiet revolution is gathering pace.
BatFirst aims to put a bat in the hand of every Year 3 child attending a Decile 1-5 school in Auckland.
Photo: Claudia Raven - Auckland Cricket
Seventeen months ago, Carol Agafili had never played traditional cricket. But that all changed when she heard Samoa women s captain Regina Lili i speak at the McAuley High School Sports Awards in 2019.
The Kiwi Samoan teen is now a regular at the Papatoetoe Cricket Club, where Lili i works as a women s development officer, and earned a call-up to last year s Auckland Under 17 women s team.
“We thought that we bowled and fielded really well, but the batting innings was poor from us. “We actually had a really good discussion straight after the game in the changing rooms – we spent a bit of time digesting it and working through it and using it as a learning opportunity. “It was really important that rather than tearing our hair out and throwing things around the changing room, we actually learnt from it. “Fingers crossed we don t get in that situation again – that we finish the job off a little earlier – but I m looking forward to it. “The Auckland Hearts were fantastic, they deserved the win, and it s going to make for an absolute blockbuster here, hopefully, if the Auckland weather pulls through.”
Spirit captain Brooke Halliday led the way for her side with 34 off 40, but she had little in the way of support and her side floundered after she was stumped by Tariel Lamb off the bowling of Jonas. Eimear Richardson tried to give them some impetus, but was caught by Regina Lili i for 18 off 10 off the bowling of Kelly, while Katie Gurrey had been Halliday’s first major partner, before she was dismissed the same way off the bowling of Jonas for 18 off 29. The Hearts were always going to be the favourites chasing less than six runs per over and while Halliday took 2-22 from her four overs they were barely troubled.