Unbeaten North Shore Cricket Club thrilled

North Shore Cricket Club’s premier side has won the prestigious Auckland two-day competition for the first time in 35 years.

Shore last won the championship in the 1987-88 season, having previously claimed it in 1977-78 and 1982-83.

In a rain-affected 2022-23, North Shore won six of its first seven matches, with the other one abandoned.

Going into the final-round match against Parnell last weekend, Shore had an unbeatable lead in the contest for the sought-after Hedley Howarth trophy.

Tendai Chitongo proved a match-winner with the ball, picking up four five-wicket bags over the season.

The top batting performance was Sam Hind’s 113 not out against Takapuna before Christmas.

The Devonport Domain-based club is buzzing over the win, with a major celebration planned for 25 March, when it is hoped members of previous winning teams will attend.

Former club manager Roger Brittenden, who became North Shore patron at the start of the season after the death of Barry Sinclair, has followed the side for decades, through numerous relegation battles and many years in Auckland’s second division.

North Shore spinner Tendai Chitongo on his way to a five-wicket bag against Papatoetoe this month – one of four he snared during the 2022-2023 season performers, but Shore was consistent across the board.

“I said at the beginning of the season I hoped to see North Shore win a championship before I die,” the 77-year-old said. “I’ve no intention of dying anytime soon, but I’m delighted.”

North Shore coach Chris Reid was deservedly proud of the team, which has risen after seven years in the second division – to fourth, third, and now champions, over the last four years (with one competition cancelled due to Covid).

He said his first aim had been to consolidate the side in the first division, rather than going straight back down again, a fate that befalls many promoted sides not used to playing a higher standard of cricket.

Most champion sides had two or three star

“We played positive aggressive cricket,” Reid said, which meant Shore was more likely to be ahead on the scoreboard in rain-affected games.

Spin bowler Tendai Chitongo, whose 41 wickets over the season are likely to win him Auckland’s best club cricketer of the year award, said much of Shore’s success can be attributed to the culture of self-belief and team support engendered by coach Reid.

Winning the Auckland championship was “unreal, unbelievable,” said Chitongo, who arrived at the club in 2017 as its overseas professional and is now club manager.

“Talking to former players about how much it means to them, that we have won, shows how much it matters.”

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