Northland Indian Association Inc. in collaboration with Northland Cricket Association hosted an indoor cricket tournament on Sunday, November 18, at Cobham Oval in Whangarei to get into the groove for the ongoing India A & New Zealand A tournament and create a fever for upcoming India’s Kiwi tour in January next year.
In a short announcement last week, the organisers saw four teams register including one girls’ team. Each team had eight players between the age of 12 and 15 with two overs batting per player.
The team names were inspired from Indian Premier League teams and were named Whangarei Daredevils, Whangarei Royal Challengers, Kings VIII Punjab and the girls’ team Whangarei Misfits.
To everyone’s amazement, the girls’ team Whangarei Misfits gave quite a tough competition to its challenging counterparts and even won one match. Kings VIII Punjab were declared winners at the friendly indoor game who will be felicitated and given awards at a private ceremony later this month and will also get an opportunity to meet the Team A of India and NZ A.
“The idea behind hosting this tournament was to get the young talents a platform for social integration, networking and an opportunity to upcoming players to show their game,” a spokesperson from the Northland Indian Association told The Indian Weekender.
“We also want to get the young players to get ready for India’s NZ tour next year followed by the World Cup,” the spokesperson added.
The first unofficial test between India A and New Zealand A tournament was held in Mt Maunganui that resulted in a draw. The next two test matches will be held in Hamilton (23-26 November), Whangarei (30 Nov-03 Dec), followed by three ODI at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui on December 7, 09 and 11.
India will play five ODIs against the Black Caps between 23 January and 03 February and three T20s from 06 to 10 February 2019.