Cricket: Premier finalists chase drought-breaking title

Taranaki Cricket

Civil Logistics Inglewood and Stratford are set to collide at Pukekura Park on Sunday in the Expert Turf Premier One-Day Grand Final, with both clubs chasing a drought-breaking titles.

For Stratford, victory would end a wait stretching back almost a century, while Inglewood are equally determined to lift the silverware after their own long spell between celebrations.

Inglewood is top qualifier and looks back to 2014 for its last taste of title success.

That year’s side won the one-day trophy in an era where the club was one of Taranaki’s strongest and a regular feature at the business end of the comps.

Ultimate success has proved elusive since though – they last qualified for a grand final in the wash out of 2024, with NPMU taking home the honours on that occasion.

Prior to that Inglewood made two-day final appearances in 2021, 2019 and 2017, and both one-day and two-day finals in 2015 without being able to go all the way.

They will come into the match on the back of an indifferent patch of form to finish the one-day competition – having got off to a flyer with three-bonus point wins in their first three matches. Ultimately comfortable winners of their semifinal they were made to work hard against a second-string NPBHS First XI to book their spot for Sunday.

They will know they are good enough on their day, but will need key and experienced performers such as Taranaki opener Bailey Wisnewski, Aaron Taylor, Richard Clough, Luke Dravitzki and Brent Stevens to step up with big games.

Stratford on the other hand come into the match in much better form, having knocked over defending champion and top-seed NPMU in their semifinal encounter.

Stratford is far less used to the big occasion games at Pukekura Park, having featured in just one final in the past decade. That came in 2021 when the side played Marist in the T20 grand final, going down by 17 runs.

Remarkably, it has been exactly 100 years since the club last won a standalone title in top-level Taranaki cricket.

Brian Bellringer’s seminal book A Tale Worth Telling records Stratford winning the first ever official Taranaki club title, in 1925/26 and they shared a title with Tarurutangi five years later in 1930/31.

It's not the kind of century any cricketer wants, but it’s doubtful this group will be intimidated by the trip to Pukekura Park.

In Peter Ingram, they have a man who has been there and done that at every level, and players such as Liam Muggeridge, and Denis Mihalijevich have plenty of representative experience at the home of Taranaki cricket.

Throw in some other key veterans such as Chris Coombe and Grant Commerford and mix them with exciting young talent in players like Jamie Ingram, Stirling Monk, Riley Bettington and Ryan Taylor, they have a team more than capable of getting the job done.

Play is scheduled to start at 10.30am and we’re all looking forward to a big day.

If you can’t make it along on the day, a livestream of the match is available at www.livenow.nz or full match details including live scoring can be found at the Cricket Central app or here at PlayHQ: https://www.playhq.com/.../expert.../game-centre/2114512d