Challenging cricket season for nelson twins

It proved a frustrating return home for the Gaging twins, Kate and Anna, as their Central Hinds T20 cricket side was beaten twice at Saxton Oval this month.

Kate got the team off to the best possible start against the Super Smash Dream 11 defending champions, the Wellington Blaze.  It was a rematch of last year’s final
The wicketkeeper snared a slick catch to dismiss the Blaze’s captain and superstar Melie Kerr.

“It was just a feather,” Kate says modestly.

A real talking point was the 23-year-old standing up to the stumps to Nelson Nyxons’ swing bower Claudia Green.

“I always wanted to do it at Hinds level but didn’t quite have the confidence before. Her hooping inswinger is harder to keep to than pace. Claudia now has a bouncer too so that might throw a spanner in the mix,” Kate reveals.

Watching from the sidelines, Anna was suitably impressed.

“I rate her keeping pretty highly. She’s probably one of the best in the country,” enthuses the medium fast bowler, who was carrying the drinks for the match.

Kate completed a slick display to pull off an underarm run out to end the Blaze’s innings.

“She’s cheeky like that,” Anna confirms. The pressure was on Kate when she came in to bat at No.9, with the Hinds struggling to chase down a target of 115.

“You have got to find a boundary, but it wasn’t the greatest shot from me,” Kate admits, after her two ball duck. The Hinds lost by 25 runs and then two days later were completely overwhelmed by the Northern Brave.

While they finally managed to post more than 100 runs, their usually potent fast bowling attack was taken apart as they suffered a crushing nine wicket loss.

“At least the Nelson weather was good. It was nice to be home for those two back-to-back games as it is such a busy schedule,” comments Kate.

It was easy to identify the twins as Kate had a graze on her chin.

“I wasn’t wearing a helmet for once, in fielding practice, and took one to the chin.”