Collier puts Old Boys on top

A Henry Collier century led Old Boys to a 141-run win over Freyberg and put them into top spot on the one-day ladder.

Old Boys are now the only unbeaten side after four rounds and were the dominant team in their clash against Freyberg at Manawaora Park on Saturday.

Freyberg put Old Boys into bat, which may be a decision they regretted, as the Old Boys put on 112 for the first wicket. Brynn Cleaver scored a patient 31, but it was his opening partner Collier who played the starring role.

Collier looked in good nick in scoring 105, before he was out in the 40th over. After the two openers were out a few players came in and hit it around, but there were no major scores.

Left-arm Caleb Gaylard grabbed 3-53 for Freyberg and spinner Ravi Pathirana took 3-49, while there were a couple of run outs.

Freyberg were then rolled for 110 in 34 overs, with Gaylard’s 24 the best offering.

Old Boys put in a good effort in the field and medium-pacer Tim Richards had the best bowling figures, with 3-18.

Matt Borren had 2-10 and Collier chipped in with 2-21 for good measure with his spin.

Marist were beefed up with their Central Districts players, but it was the rest of the squad who shone in a four-wicket win over Palmerston.

Marist had CD players Navin Patel and Mitch Renwick back and also had George Worker playing, fresh off his tour of India with New Zealand.

Winless Palmerston batted first and didn’t make a good start, as they were struggling early at 35-7.

Mike Meyer came to their rescue though and held their innings together with 74 and Rob Robinson hit 29 at the end to give the redcaps something to bowl at, as they posted 152-8.

Marist let the pressure off a bit having been so dominant, but still did well to restrict Palmerston. Connor Morriss picked up three wickets.

In reply, Marist didn’t start well either, as Worker was out for 4, bowled by Carlos Jensen, then Morriss was out the next ball to leave them at 4-2.

Renwick and Arana Noemabarnett got them to 35 before they were both out quickly too, leaving the score at 35-4 and giving Palmerston at chance.

But Dave Meiring and Floyd Na Nagara linked up and put on the match-winning partnership, getting them to 144 before Meiring was out for 60 and Na Nagara for 34.

Patel and Hugh Symes then got Marist to 155-6 to win the game.

Jensen took three wickets for Palmerston, with Benn Dixon, Nick Walsh and Russell Swindells all grabbing one each.

United slumped to their third loss in a row as they were beaten by Palmerston North Boys’ High School by three wickets.

United posted a competitive total of 221-8, where opener Ma’ara Ave made a start with 27, then No 3 Hayden Hill (54) and No 4 Logan Mchardy (46) got them going.

Mchardy played a patient innings, batting for 30 overs.

But Boys’ High’s bowlers fought back, with Scott Davidson taking 2-20 with his off-spin and medium pacer Rishabh De taking 3-40 in the middle order, including Mchardy and Hill.

Felix Murray then hit 34 not out from 26 balls at the end of the innings.

The Boys’ High openers then got their chase off to a solid start as Thomas Walshe and Tom Tremain dug in, batting for 35 overs for an opening stand of 141.

Tremain was out for 85 and then thanks to United bowlers Manpreet Singh and Nathan Hill, who took two wickets each, Boys’ High lost four wickets in five overs to be 157-4.

Left-arm spinner Murray bowled a miserly eight overs for 3-18 and got rid of Walshe for 59 with the score at 206-5 with 4.3 overs remaining.

But Davidson came in at No 6 and whacked an unbeaten 54 from 28 balls, hitting two sixes and five fours to win the game with 1.4 overs left.