Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
Auckland’s first all-Māori cricket team took on the Cook Islands in three T20s at McLeans College in east Auckland over the weekend, as the visitors capped off their preparations for the ICC Pacific Qualifying tournament in Vanuatu.
The squad, named Tāmaki Makaurau Tāne, was captained by former Auckland First-Class representative Dusan Hakaraia (Ngā Puhi) and featured all 12 players with Maori heritage.
Auckland Māori prevailed in all three matches with games one and three producing some particularly compelling action considering the early September conditions – with Cook Islands captain and Central Districts contracted player Ma’ara Ave leading the way with fighting half-centuries while chasing.
The inaugural series attracted good support and coverage from within the cricket network and via the media.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
