By Dale Budge
Counties Manukau cricketer Brooke Halliday collected her maiden domestic century over the weekend as the Northern Spirit beat the Wellington Blaze in Hallyburton Johnstone Shield action at the Basin Reserve.
Halliday, who is part of the famous Halliday cricketing dynasty at the Manukau City Cricket Club, has been playing for the Spirit since her 2012-13 debut and has helped her side make a fast start to this summer’s competition.
She scored an unbeaten 101 as the Spirit successfully chased down 214-9 with eight wickets and more than 11 overs to spare to win the second of two games against the Blaze to open the competition.
“We just went out there and opened the batting and just went from there,” Halliday told Counties Sports Hub. “It helped that Wellington bowled a few wides in the first 10 overs, which made it easier for us to get in.
“They had the scoreboard up, so it was pretty clear to me [I was getting close to 100]. I probably slowed down when I got to about that 85 mark, more because I started to feel a bit nauseous.
“It is always on your mind especially with the scoreboard right in front of you, but you try not to let it get to you too much.”
And what did it feel like reaching triple figures for the first time at that level?
“It was good because I finally got over that line,” Halliday explained. “I thought we had 10 or so runs to win and then I hit the four and it turned out we only need three runs to win so at the end of the day I was actually quite lucky to get over the line.
“I have a few things health-wise and injury-wise over the last few years so this is the first year in quite a while where my body is on side and everything is going well.
“I don’t dwell too much on the achievements – I probably should – but it was a good feeling after everything I have been through the last couple of years.”
Uncle Mike Halliday is a well-known and successful stalwart of Counties Manukau cricket while father Ross was also a successful player.
The Halliday family has a long and successful involvement with the Manukau City Cricket Club and Brooke’s success over the weekend was well-received back home.
She was inundated with messages of congratulations.
“Obviously my Dad and my uncle – especially my uncle Mike, who is pretty well-known in Manukau and Counties, and my brother, people my Dad used to play with and others that you haven’t heard from in a while.
“There is a Counties Old Boys page on Facebook and I saw a few things shared there.
“It is good to see.”
Having played over 50 List A games for Northern Districts and 36 T20 matches, Halliday has put herself in the frame for international selection.
While the opportunity hasn’t come just yet, she continues to work at achieving the highest honour in the game.
“I think always – I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and training hard,” she said. “I need to keep enjoying my cricket which is one of the biggest things that I concentrate on. There is no point in doing it if I don’t enjoy it.
“If I keep scoring runs and higher honours come then great, but I will just keep doing what I’m doing.”
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