Marist United assert dominance

In the battle of the heavyweights New Plymouth Marist United (NPMU) came out on top in emphatic style.

Having won the toss and elected to bat on the Western Park grass against New Plymouth Old Boys (NPOB) on Saturday, NPMU lost wickets at regular intervals en route to posting 166-9 from their 50 overs.

Opener Dean Robinson (42) and Kurt Leuthart (33) enjoyed the most productive partnership of the innings, putting on 61 for the second wicket.

Josh Barrett (23) and some hard hitting by Jacob Richards, who ended up 33 not out off just 25 balls, provided valuable runs further down the order.

The pick of the NPOB bowlers was Englishman Ross Bryans, who took 4-24 off his 10 overs. Left-arm orthodox spinner Daniel Bernet then spun a web around the NPOB top order to leave them reeling at 13-4 and 30-5.

Bernet finished with exceptional figures of 4-10 off 10 overs.

NPOB could not recover from the horror start and were dismissed for 100 off 38 overs, leaving NPMU to take the bonus point victory.

In the other matches, Woodleigh proved too strong for Inglewood.

Woodleigh posted 278-7, with Phil Barraclough controlling the innings with 74 not out. In reply Inglewood were bowled out in the

43rd over for 203 with Bailey Wisnewski scoring 68.

FDMC caused an upset with a one-run victory over Stratford.

FDMC’s victory was set up by Mattie Allen, who top scored with

63 not out in their 221-5. Stratford were reduced to 151-7 with 10 overs left but with the final pair at the crease they required 13 from the last over. Only two runs came off the first three balls before Jack Krutz hit a six, leaving five needed off two but Stratford managed just three.

NPBHS beat Hawera by 16 runs in a low-scoring affair. NPBHS scored 132 with only Ryan Gilmour (34) getting past 20 while Rob Northcott took 4-29.

Hawera responded with 116, Tyler Slingsby picking up 5-25, including three wickets in four balls.

After three rounds NPMU lead on 14 points, Woodleigh, Inglewood and NPOB all have 10, NPBHS and FDMC four and Stratford and Hawera two.