Takapuna beat a strong Karori side for the trophy | PHOTOSPORT

Takapuna top club of 2021

Posted Monday, 12 April, 2021 in Community News

Will O'Donnell found the perfect ending to a huge personal summer of cricket

The Auckland Aces batsman led his unbeaten club side, Takapuna, to the National Club Cricket Championship title for the first time in a decade - playing a stunning role with the ball.

#NCCC2021 🏆 @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/ME4M5kPrYc
— #NZIII (@MargotButcher) April 11, 2021

O'Donnell captained Takapuna who were up against a strong Karori side from the capital in the 1v2 Final. Karori had brought with them BLACKCAP Tom Blundell and current or past Firebirds Michael Pollard, Peter Younghusband, James Hartshorn, Michael Snedden and Jakob Bhula, with the latter going on to be named the Batsman of the Tournament.

Spoils of success | PHOTOSPORT

Takapuna had Aces Robbie & Will O'Donnell, Ross ter Braak, Danru Ferns and NZ U19 keeper/batsman Quinn Sunde who top-scored with a knock of 38 for the Aucklanders after O'Donnell had elected to bat.

Twenty-four hours earlier Cornwall Park had been soaked by torrential rain, washing out rounds four and five and leading to a delayed start in all three playoffs on the final Sunday - but although conditions were slow, as if by magic the last wisps of grey clouds were blown away in time for the big matches, replaced by cornflower blue skies over One Tree Hill.

Run-making was tough going, and adventure with the bat was unduly punished, but the big match would prove a worthy and absorbing contest.

The icing on the cake for Auckland player of the season and Takapuna captain Will O'Donnell | PHOTOSPORT

TAKAPUNA v KARORI

1v2 Final

11 April 2021 | Cornwall Cricket Club Number One

Emerging Firebirds paceman James Hartshorn was tight at the top, but Liam Roche (2-16) had the first breakthrough off his first over courtesy of a Jakob Bhula catch in the deep.

However, Quinn Sunde and Will O'Donnell knuckled down against the onslaught to graft a significant 43-run stand for the second wicket.

Quinn Sunde and Will O'Donnell | NZC

The pair batted into the 11th over of the T20 before O'Donnell (20 off 31) was caught, having tried to lift the tempo against Jakob Vandenberg.

First drop Sunde went on to top-score with 38 (41), playing a vital hand as he took his side into the 17th over.

Karori paceman Michael Snedden had meanwhile picked up a big quick wicket in Robbie O'Donnell, and would later end Sunde's stay for 2-28 off his four overs.

James Hartshorn | NZC

Sunde had added 24 for the fourth wicket with another promising Auckland youngster in Benjamin Beecroft (21 off 23) and, despite Karori picking up a cluster of wickets at the death, Takapuna had kept enough in hand to look for some quick finishing, Daniel James punching the only six of the innings.

They had made it to 107/8 in their 20 overs and, on paper, nine times out of 10, the odds might have been with Karori at halftime. But this was that other time, with the beaming sun now steaming and baking all before it.

Fresh off a good Auckland Aces campaign, Ross ter Braak steamed in and had Tom Blundell caught behind off the first over of the reply.

Tom Blundell | NZC

Michael Pollard then batted out a maiden against Matt Jones, who then followed up with a wicket maiden for his next set of six when Bhula was caught and bowled.

Two big wickets gone, and Karori was only 4/2 at the end of the fourth over: suddenly those 108 runs were looking hard to get.

Peter Younghusband | NZC

Peter Younghusband finally found the rope a couple of times off Ryan Quinn as he and Pollard slowly built a partnership for the third wicket. They had almost reached the midpoint of the chase when Pollard was given out LBW on what would prove the Wellington club's top score of 16 at 31/3.

It was a fortuitous wicket for Will O'Donnell, but after his Takapuna colleagues started to make regular breakthroughs, the captain finished with a flurry - adding three tailend wickets in the 18th over to finish off the match. His most spectacular contribution however was a quality diving catch, lunging in the deep to dismiss number five Jonathan Sole.