Dorset's Jacob Gordon, left, is enjoying a run-strewn spell in New Zealand's picturesque Waikato Valley & Hamilton region with five scores of fifty or more helping his adopted club Morrinsville Piako reach this coming weekend's 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, serving as a stand-in for the town of Hobbiton in the movie," Gordon explained.
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.
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, serving as a stand-in for the town of Hobbiton in the movie," Gordon explained.
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.