Freyberg and Unitedmake unbeaten start to twenty20
Freyberg and United have made a strong start to the Manawatu¯ club twenty20 competition, with two wins each in the opening weekend.
Freyberg, this season’s 50-over champions, comfortably beat Feilding and Marist in Palmerston North on Saturday, and United brushed aside Old Boys and Palmerston North Boys’ High School. In the first round, 74 from Thomas Kuggeleijn helped Freyberg to 151-7 against Feilding. No Feilding batsman reached 20 in their reply as they made 110-9. Freyberg’s Harry Wenham took 3-15 and Finn Martin 2-17.
United’s 116-8 proved too much for Old Boys. Only Braden Rowe, with an unbeaten 46, was in the runs for United. For Old Boys Stephen Bennett took 4-15. Old Boys were all out with two balls to spare for 68. The United quintet of Jack Harris, Greg Berry, Thomas Kirk, Cam Harris and Ben O’connor took two wickets each.
Boys’ High beat Palmerston in the round’s other game. Opener Josh Cambell top-scored for the schoolboys, with 38, as Boys’ High finished on 140-5. Palmerston could muster only 91-9 in reply. Seamer Jonty Fleck took 2-9.
In round two, Freyberg comfortably beat Marist, who made 94-7 batting first.
Martin was again in the wickets, taking 4-8.
United might have thought their 119-8 against Boys’ High wouldn’t be enough for a win, as Aadesh Ganugapati, Jett DonaldCharnley and Fred Mcverry took two wickets each for the schoolboys. After an opening stand of 28, Boys’ High struggled to string partnerships together and finished their 20 overs on 94-8. O’connor completed a good all-round day with 4-13 and Kirk added another two wickets.
Palmerston bounced back from their opening round defeat with a 10-run win over Feilding.
Palmerston made 129-6 and Feilding were all out with two balls to spare. Kit Bradley and Matthew Janes combined for a 53-run stand, but it wasn’t enough.