Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Rep team beats competition favourites
What a fantastic result for the Marlborough Senior Rep side over last weekend in Rangiora.
The comprehensive 1st innings win over competition favourites Canterbury Country puts Marlborough in a great position to reach the Zone3 final once again this season.
There was a man of the match performance from Black Cap Ben Wheeler who scored an unbeaten 169 and then took 5 wickets for 7 runs as Country were dismissed for only 95.
This was far from a one man show, however, with every player playing their part.
Luke Frankland once again got the team off to a solid start as opener batting 119 balls for 30 to blunt the country attack while there was strong support down the order with Matt Stretch (44), Tarin Mason (47) and Joel Lavender (22) all making important contributions in partnership with Wheeler to get the final score through to 349.
The bowlers then backed up Wheeler’s devastating opening spell with Stretch, Mason, Nick Weaver and Jerry Lamb all picking up vital wickets.
The win will put Marlborough in confident mood as they prepare to host Nelson at Horton Park on 19-20th January for their final Zone 3 game.
Senior grade players return to Tasman Premier League action this weekend with the two local sides playing each other at Horton Park. The Marlborough Labour hire Dolphins will be keen to consolidate their top spot in the table while the Falcons will be hoping to make up some lost ground after the previous round game was lost to the weather. The game starts at 11.30am on the main ground at Horton Park.
On the Horton Park number three ground we have the SBS 2nd grade final starting at 12.30pm between Wairau Valley and Renwick. Both sides have been in good form this season making the winner hard to pick. For local cricket supporters Saturday should be a great day to pack a picnic and head for Horton Park with two intriguing contests to watch.
Despite the wet weather last week all Senior and 2nd grade T20 games were played as the popular competitions got underway. In senior grade MBC 1st XI came close to upsetting Wairau, while Celtic made it two wins from two comfortably beating Wairau Valley. In 2nd grade there were wins for Renwick, Celtic Green, UCVC and Picton and it will be fascinating to see which teams emerge as the leading teams in this competition.
This weekend is the final rounds of junior cricket prior to the Xmas and New Year break with junior grades re-starting the first weekend of February. I hope you all have a great break and get in plenty of beach cricket practice. Also best wishes to our U17 rep team which heads to Napier next week to compete in the Central Districts tournament.