Dorset's Jacob Gordon impressing in New Zealand

He has registered five scores of 50 or more, helping his adopted club Morrinsville Piako reach the semi-finals of the Spark Premier 50-over competition.

Soon after landing on New Zealand's North island he plundered consecutive 50s in a t20 tournament and has followed it up with a string of scores in 50-over matches.

He made 68 against Star University, an unbeaten 54 v Weymouth, 78 in a loss to Bill Burnett Real Estate and, after taking 3-51 with his spin bowling, made another 56 for MPC in the victory over SPL Lodge.

It came as no surprise when the 21-year old former Clayesmore School student was selected to play for the Waikato Valley representative team in a scheduled two-day match.

"I opened the batting and had made five not out when the rains came and the match was washed out," said a disappointed Gordon, who is in New Zealand on a break from his Oxford Brookes university studies until the end of February.

"Waikato Valley & Hamilton is a stunning part of the world. It's a significant location used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies."

Gordon, who previously played Southern Premier League cricket for Bournemouth and Bashley (Rydal), has joined Surrey Championship club Banstead for the 2024 English club season.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth youngster Ben Rogers played a starring role as his Albion Park Eagles side made it four wins on the trot as they beat New South Wales South Coast CA rivals, Bomaderry Tigers.

Bomaderry lost four early wickets before a mid-innings revival saw them finish all out for 124.
Rogers opened the Eagles innings and watched in horror as five wickets fell at the other end in the first eight overs with less than 50 runs on the scoreboard.

Showing maturity beyond his years, batsman/keeper Rogers dug in and was involved in two significant partnerships which saw the Eagles home with 20 of the 50 overs remaining. He finished unbeaten on 58 balls which included six fours and a six.