SA trip a treat

When the chance to “live and breathe cricket” for three weeks, while visiting a unique and fascinating part of the world came his way, Marlborough cricketing stalwart Greg Stretch took it with both hands.

In March, Greg travelled to the republic as part of the New Zealand over-50 cricket team, who were taking part in the Over-50s Cricket World Cup tournament.

The 53-year-old’s role was “cricket manager” for the 16-strong team, which included two former Marlburians on the playing roster - Mason Robinson and Jason Campbell.

The “Grey Caps”, as they are affectionately known, performed admirably at the 14-team tournament.

They topped their pool after the round robin stages, beating Zimbabwe by 225 runs, arch-rivals Australia by two wickets, the West Indies by eight wickets and Canada by 202 runs. Despite did enough to qualify comfortably for the semi-finals, where they met hosts South Africa.

In a rain-shortened encounter, reduced from the standard 45over match to a 27-over game, NZ were beaten by six wickets to miss out on a much-coveted place in the decider.

They rebounded quickly though, avenging their earlier loss to the USA in the third/fourth play-off to claim the bronze medal.

In the grand final, staged at the historic Newlands ground, England beat the hosts by 65 runs, concluding an event which comprised 56 matches, staged at 23 different venues.

Although the opportunity to travel to Africa was a huge incentive for the NZ team, Greg said the players and management were always focussed on giving a good account of themselves on the field.

“At the end of the day the main reason we were all there was the cricket … we wanted to do well and we went over there with a strong all-round side. Our first we achieved. We obviously didn’t win our semi, which was disappointing, but I was rapt with the way the team bounced back to finish off with a win in the playoff for third and fourth.

“You couldn’t fault the organisation of the tournament … we got to play at some wonderful private school and club grounds around Cape Town and it was just great fun to be part of.

As cricket manager, Greg’s duties included matchday selection, running warm-ups and providing “eyes and ears from boundary” for captain Adrian Dale. There was always a possibility Greg would be called on to fill-in on the field, with he and the team physio being “travelling reserves” but, despite there being a gastro bug that afflicted players at various time of the event, they were not called on to don the playing strip.

“If we got a game that was always going to be a bonus,” said Greg, who had represented NZ A Over50 earlier in the season. “I didn’t go over there expecting a game … I was there if needed. The fact I was not called on was testament to the work the players had put in to make themselves nice and fit for the trip.”

Among many personal highlights of the trip was a chance to meet tournament ambassadors Barry Richards, Mike Proctor and Omar Henry, three former South African cricketers. Richard was rated one of the world’s leading batsmen, Proctor was a dynamic all-rounder while Henry was the first non-white player of the post-Apartheid era to play cricket for South Africa.

“I think all three had a liking for New Zealand because they always seemed to be at our games, which was great,” said Greg. He also had a chance to catch a rugby game between the Sharks and Stormers at Cape Town Stadium, visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and take in a safari.

“To be on a three-week cricket tour, living and breathing the game the whole time, was something I have always wanted to do … to be able to do it with a great bunch of Kiwis and make so many new friends was one of my life’s cricketing highlights,” added the current MCA chairman.