By Dale Budge
Dayne Game provided a match-winning cameo to give Tuakau a bittersweet three-wicket victory over long-time rivals Glenbrook Maramarua in a thrilling first ever day-night match in Counties Manukau Cricket history at Dr John Lightbody Reserve on Saturday.
The teenager calmly carried his side to victory in the dying overs of a close run-chase as the lights took effect to commemorate what would have been his late brother’s 21st birthday party.
Troy Game, a cricket tragic and popular member of the Tuakau club passed away in tragic circumstances in 2019. His death has been hard on his family and the close-knit Tuakau club and it was fitting that they could honour their former teammate in such an historic occasion.
“It was awesome,” Game told Counties Sports Hub. “It is by far the best batting performance I have ever had. The connection from bat to ball was really good. The lights did play their part towards the end but the ball was really easy to see and it was cool.
“By the time I came out we had lost our best batsman and so we were really stretched for batsmen.
“I was under pressure from when I first got in there and I knew we had to win it then and there. It was pretty stressful out there but we just played it normal and we got there.”
Game’s father and a number of his friends came out to see him play in the emotional match as they honoured Troy’s memory.
“It would have been his 21st birthday on the 21st of January and it was a big moment for me. I wanted to play really well in his honour.
“That was the highlight of it all – Dad being there and all my mates being there and the atmosphere was amazing.
“That is probably one of the greatest moments of my life and I will always remember that and I’m sure the boys will too.”
Batting first Glenbrook Maramarua struggled through the first half of their innings, losing three early wickets before the middle order showed some resistance.
Veteran Glenbrook Maramarua batsman Bruce Nicholls top scored with 63 while Martin Denyer (37), skipper Todd Williams (24) and Aaron Denyer (22) helped the visitors through to 183 all out in 36.2 overs.
Glenbrook Maramarua needed to strike early to make a game of it and that they did. Aaron Denyer snared opening batsman Ben Wilson with the fifth ball of the innings and then knocked over ex-Glenbrook Maramarua player Daryl Putohe with a superb delivery next ball to have the home side reeling at 0-2.
But the experience Richard Ansell and Kieran West went about a recovery job. When Tuakau lost Ansell with the score on 56, it looked like the visitors might take control.
But a 69-run partnership between West and the impressive Hayden Danford steadied the ship. The 15-year-old Danford leads the Senior B MVP race and showcased his immense talent with another impressive bowling display. He backed it up with a well-constructed run-a-ball 28 before Nicholls removed him with the score on 125.
A couple more quick wickets to Roel Ermens and Garrick Knight’s prized scalp of West (62), had Tuakau teetering at 152/7.
But Game’s 17 off 13 and Bradley West’s measured 12 off 22 saw the home side to the target with three overs remaining much to the delight of a vocal home crowd.
The occasion proved a success with the lights and white ball doing their job while it was played in good spirit. Tuakau put on a BBQ during the change of innings and the additional spectators were treated to a quality game of cricket.
Note: Author Dale Budge played for Glenbrook Maramarua but contributed absolutely nothing to the game.
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