Black Clash

2023 - 1 - 20

kieran read kieran read

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Kieran Read heroics not enough for Team Rugby in 2023 Black Clash (New Zealand Herald)

His Team Rugby side weren't able to topple Team Cricket at Hagley Oval.

However, the great start and some finishing flare from Australian men’s cricket coach Andrew McDonald and former Black Caps all-rounder Nathan McCullum gave Team Cricket a total that ultimately proved enough to take the win and satisfy a raucous crowd at Hagley Oval. Facing down former Black Caps opening bowlers Kyle Mills and Chris Martin, the ball hooping through the air and darting off the pitch, Read showed class beyond his qualifications as a rugby legend in storming his way to a 45-ball 73 as his side attempted to chase down Team Cricket’s total of 198 in 20 overs. A heroic all-round performance from former All Blacks captain Kieran Read wasn’t enough for Team Rugby to defeat a classy Team Cricket side in the 2023 edition of the Black Clash on Friday night.

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Image courtesy of "1 News"

Read's heroics not enough as Team Cricket wins Black Clash match (1 News)

Kieran Read had a sublime evening with both the bat and ball in Christchurch but ultimately it was Team Cricket who came out on top.

That left Team Rugby at 152/4 and needing 47 runs from the final 18 balls of the game and despite some late fireworks from Boshier [44 from 24] and Ellis [29* from 14], Team Cricket managed to hold them off. With Cummins called in for his second over, Team Rugby decided it was time to pull out their Double Play and try to rack some runs off the Honey Badger. That left a target of 199 for Team Rugby to chase and it was up to Read and Dagg to get the response going. Finally Team Cricket got the man they wanted in the 15th over though with Mills forcing Read to sky a ball to McCullum bringing his innings to a close at an impressive 73 from 45 ball. With his second ball of the night, Read made Devcich sky a ball to Israel Dagg for the first wicket of the evening in the ninth over. Read took three wickets and scored 73 runs for the men in red but was unable to get them over the line as Team Cricket held on for a six-run win on an evening full of fine batting, bowling and banter.

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Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

Kieran Read winds up the 'Honey Badger' with underarm mime in ... (Stuff.co.nz)

The former All Blacks skipper mimed an underarm delivery to Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins during the Black Clash encounter. Team Cricket beat Team Rugby by six ...

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Image courtesy of "RugbyPass"

Kieran Read's Team Rugby edged by Team Cricket in Black Clash (RugbyPass)

Read's 73 runs looked like a promising start to the chase, but the run rate slowed and in the end, the match came down to the final over.

In between innings, the teams played a single over for charity, with $1000 being donated to Surf Life Saving New Zealand for every run scored. [Jock McKenzie](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jock-mckenzie/) replaced Boshier and faced the next two balls, only managing to register a single to leave Andrew Ellis (the cricketer) with the tall order of landing 15 runs off three balls. The play is now an iconic moment in the sporting rivalry between the two nations. Ellis ignited hope by firing the next ball for six but rounded out the game with a pair of singles. Read’s match-high 73 runs looked like a promising start to the chase for Team Rugby, but the run rate slowed and in the end, the match came down to the final over with Read’s side needing 16 runs off the final six balls. [Will Jordan](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/will-jordan/) was a late withdrawal, as was up-and-coming star [Ruben Love](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ruben-love/), the latter being a former U-19 New Zealand cricket representative.

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