Puaikura-Titikaveka on track at T20

Dramatic mid air catches, diving saves and ninja like reactions had batters in a daze during Friday night’s Turtles Domestic League III cricket competition at the BCI Stadium.

Batters found it hard going as bowlers carved through the batting line ups to take centre stage.

Te-Au-O-Tonga’s Jonathan Rowe had a stellar game taking two miracle catches in the field and collecting two wickets for four runs with the ball.

Together with Toara ‘The Tank’ Teinaki (three wickets for 13 runs) and Junior Ngatokorua (24 for four), they had the Puaikura-Titikaveka team in all sorts of trouble as a parade of blue shirts came and went in quick succession.

Enter Puaikura-Titikaveka’s in-form batter and man of the moment Pa Zekaria as he took the game by the throat and launched into some big hits to get his side through to 72.

Opening Puaikura-Titikaveka bowler Chauncey Flay had the fans screaming and the music pumping early when he picked up the big wicket of Hamish Weir in the first over.

He didn’t stop there as he collected another three wickets to end the match with figures of 19 runs for four wickets from his 4 overs.

Opening bowling partner Tuaine Mamanu used his left arm variation to absolute perfection as he kept scoring to a minimum at the other end.

Rowe added to his bowling and fielding efforts with the bat providing Te-Au-O-Tonga’s only attack scoring 33 runs from 27 balls.

Puaikura-Titikaveka’s fielding was sensational including a lightning quick stumping from national skipper Hori Miller to have Te-Au-O-Tonga all out for 54.

This Friday’s Turtles Domestic League III grand final will prove highly entertaining with the first ball due to be bowled at 6.30pm between defending champions Puaikura-Titikaveka and Te-Au-O-Tonga.

Fans will have their music blazing, BBQs cranking and shouts of support and in the case of the Puaikura-Titikaveka crew – they will be amping to win the Turtles League with an unbeaten record and retain the trophy.

Te-Au-O-Tonga captain Wayken Punga will be heading back to basics to inspire his lads to repeat their record match winning performance from game one to wrangle the trophy off Puaikura-Titikaveka.