2018/19 was a quiet season for New Zealand Croatia on the fixtures front with our annual match against Auckland DFA rained off and a three-month wait to finally (!) get a win over Kaipaki.
But that doesn't mean our NZ Croatia family have not been busy. A first-class hat-trick, long-awaited maiden five-wicket bag, life membership, and selection for a very prestigious British university team were just some of the achievements our members were up to over the course the summer.
BEN LISTER continued to impress in his second year as a professional cricketer with the Auckland Aces with young "Blister" now having played 14 first-class matches, eight Ford Trophy and 12 Burger King Super Smash matches overall for the team. Finishing the season on 43 career Plunket Shield wickets at a useful 21.83 average, Ben is now in sight of his first "50" and we look forward to Ben ticking off that first career milestone early next season.
But that doesn't mean our NZ Croatia family have not been busy. A first-class hat-trick, long-awaited maiden five-wicket bag, life membership, and selection for a very prestigious British university team were just some of the achievements our members were up to over the course the summer.
BEN LISTER continued to impress in his second year as a professional cricketer with the Auckland Aces with young "Blister" now having played 14 first-class matches, eight Ford Trophy and 12 Burger King Super Smash matches overall for the team. Finishing the season on 43 career Plunket Shield wickets at a useful 21.83 average, Ben is now in sight of his first "50" and we look forward to Ben ticking off that first career milestone early next season.
Ben's hat-trick against the Otago Volts was just the second first-class hat-trick ever at Eden Park Outer Oval, remarkable as teammate Matt McEwan had done it the previous season. Well done Ben!
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After completing his medical studies in Otago, JAMES BEVIN is now at The University of Oxford studying towards an MSc in Global Health. James was selected for the prestigious Oxford University Blues cricket team that toured Cape Town in early January 2019.
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After completing his medical studies in Otago, JAMES BEVIN is now at The University of Oxford studying towards an MSc in Global Health. James was selected for the prestigious Oxford University Blues cricket team that toured Cape Town in early January 2019.
Reports James, "We played a variety of clubs and universities, including Western Province CC, Cape Town CC, Groot Drakenstein and University of Western Cape. The results on tour started well with two very good wins over Cape Town and Western Province CC, but then we unfortunately tailed off with a tie and two losses to finish.
"Overall, it was great preparation for our upcoming [UK] season and I was pleased to score some runs to help contribute to our great win over Western Province CC."
We're thrilled for James on both "career fronts", and wish him well for the upcoming 2019 UK season. Hopefully there is time for some more cricket and more news here to come!
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It was something of an anomaly in ANTON DEVCICH's long career for Northern Districts aka the Knights that the 33-year-old off-spinning allrounder had never taken a five-wicket bag in any of the three formats.
All that changed in the 2018/19 season when he finally snaffled one (snaffled five no less!) in a Ford Trophy game for ND v the Wellington Firebirds in Whangarei.
"Overall, it was great preparation for our upcoming [UK] season and I was pleased to score some runs to help contribute to our great win over Western Province CC."
We're thrilled for James on both "career fronts", and wish him well for the upcoming 2019 UK season. Hopefully there is time for some more cricket and more news here to come!
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It was something of an anomaly in ANTON DEVCICH's long career for Northern Districts aka the Knights that the 33-year-old off-spinning allrounder had never taken a five-wicket bag in any of the three formats.
All that changed in the 2018/19 season when he finally snaffled one (snaffled five no less!) in a Ford Trophy game for ND v the Wellington Firebirds in Whangarei.
There's a terrific article from Cricinfo on Devvy here by the way which you should definitely read after you've made it to the end of this blog :)
At the end of 2018/19, Devvy had 12 ODIs, four T20 Internationals, 56 first-class caps, 89 List A one-dayers and 139 domestic T20s to his name. Unlike his brother Dean, he still hasn't got a run for the NZ Cros though, which would surely be a career highlight?
At the end of 2018/19, Devvy had 12 ODIs, four T20 Internationals, 56 first-class caps, 89 List A one-dayers and 139 domestic T20s to his name. Unlike his brother Dean, he still hasn't got a run for the NZ Cros though, which would surely be a career highlight?
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Finally a couple of shoutouts from the wrap-up of the season in April. First of all congrats to JOSH FISHER who made the New Zealand national club championship finals tournament with his side Parnell. Was a tough week for Parnell who had a handy side, but no luck, but great as always to see Fish taking a few wickies.
Finally a couple of shoutouts from the wrap-up of the season in April. First of all congrats to JOSH FISHER who made the New Zealand national club championship finals tournament with his side Parnell. Was a tough week for Parnell who had a handy side, but no luck, but great as always to see Fish taking a few wickies.
Also our sincere congratulations to our founding member and past president JOSEPH YOVICH on being made a Life Member of Whangarei's City Cricket Club. Joey is just the 16th life member of the club, the youngest in its history, and we know it will be very special to the big fella that he is following in the footsteps of his late father who was also honoured with a life membership for his services to the club.
None of us involved with New Zealand Croatia are the least bit surprised, knowing the tireless work, energy and high standards Joey puts into everything he is involved with. Congratulations. Great also to see one of our erstwhile reps STACY HYNDMAN picking up Northland Cricket Association PREMIER Grade Player of the Season, and Joey himself the NCA RESERVE Grade Batsman and Player of the Season. Still got it bud.