Champions Trophy eludes Morrinsville
Diprose Miller MorrinsvillePiako took on the Hinuera at Pohlen Park in Matamata in a two-day final at the weekend, for the overall Waikato Valley Cricket Champions Trophy.
The start of play on day one was delayed by two hours and play got underway at 1pm.
Liam Koch (1-37 off 12 overs) got Morrinsville-Piako off to a great start in the field picking an early wicket.
First change bowlers Scott Spence (1-48 off 11 overs) and Brayden Silvester (1-15 off 7 overs) picked up a wicket apiece and they were backed up well by leg spinner Kit McCarthy (1-31 off 8 overs) on comeback who picked a wicket in his first over.
Hinuera were on the ropes at 97-4 but unfortunately Morrinsville-Piako put down some chances in the field and were made to pay by South African import Girvacques De Jager.
De Jager rode his luck making his way to a hard hit 127 off 118 balls and he eventually holed out off the bowling of Jatinder Singh (1-25 off 9 overs).
Maurice Barrow (2-91 off 21 overs) and Sam Cooper (3-54 off 14 overs) were superb both bowling long spells and Hinuera were eventually all out for a formidable 309 off 81 overs.
Morrinsville-Piako was required to negotiate 6 overs at the end of day one and lost an early wicket but opener Adam Michels and No.3 Liam Koch were solid with Morrinsville- Piako finishing 21-1 at the end of day one.
Day two on Sunday was once again delayed due to a moist outfield and Morrinsville-Piako resumed their innings at 2pm with Koch first man out for 15.
Jake O’Connor (38 off 49 balls) and James Houghton (25 off 56 balls) put together a solid partnership and Jatinder Singh (27 off 29 balls) chipped in but Hinuera medium pacers Scott Styris and Chris Martin shot their way through the lower order with Morrinsville-Piako all out for 130 conceding first innings.
A much deserved win in the Champions Trophy for Hinuera and a brave effort from Diprose Miller Morrinsville-Piako who have struggled in recent weeks with injury and player unavailability. MorrinsvillePiako finished 2nd overall in the Waikato Valley competition to go along with their win in the Mike Cotter Cup.
-Brendan Revell