North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Mixed results in limited overs cricket
North Shore clubs posted two wins and two losses in round two of the Auckland premier club cricket one-day competition.
Takapuna got off to a fast start against Papatoetoe, with opener James Murray scoring 18 off just 13 balls. When he was dismissed, Robbie O’Donnell (48) came to the crease, before Takapuna’s middle order collapsed on the way to 149.
Papatoetoe’s chase was not even 10 overs old when half the side was back in the pavilion with only 19 runs on the board. Papatoetoe were all out for 79.
Matt Jones was the pick of the Takapuna bowlers with 3-19 from nine overs.
Suburbs New Lynn opted to bat first at Shepherds Park against Birkenhead and amassed 413/5 from their 50 overs.
Jonny Bassett-Graham (150) was the star of the show at the top of the order, plundering the Birkenhead attack with four sixes and 18 fours in his maiden premier ton.
James Parslow, who smashed a 13-ball half century, caused the Birkenhead bowlers problems.
In reply, Birkenhead were 41/2 after 10 overs and all out for 172 in the 41st over.
Cornwall continued their unbeaten start to the season with a six-wicket win over East Coast Bays.
Batting first, Bays lost early wickets as both openers were dismissed with only four runs on the board. However, Connor Ridge (53) and Sebastian Langridge (77) managed to steady the ship with a
‘‘Three big scores headlined the Shore batting effort’’
92-run partnership as Bays posted a total of 187.
Solid partnerships throughout the chase meant Cornwall were never troubled by the score.
At Vauxhall Rd, North Shore reached 296/7 against Ellerslie and went on for a 83-run win. Three big scores headlined the Shore batting effort, including an unbeaten 106 from Michael Olsen. Olsen and skipper Graeme Beghin (74) combined for an 81-run partnership. In the 28th over, another stroke maker in Ronnie Hira (87) joined the fun and plundered the Ellerslie attack with six massive sixes in his 50-ball stay at the crease.
In reply, the visitors batted out their 50 overs but could only manage 213/6 as North Shore registered their first win in the 2017/18 Jeff Crowe Cup.
The first round of the two-day competition starts on Saturday with Howick Pakuranga versus Takapuna, University against East Coast Bays and North Shore taking on Birkenhead.