Hawera United look to build on dominant display
Cricket
At the top of the table going into this round, Hawera United will look to extend their lead after a dominant display against NPBHS on day one of the Revital Fertiliser Premier two day cricket competition.
Hawera United won the toss and elected to bowl.
It only took five overs to snare their first wicket, with Adam Keene removing Ryan Gilmour for one.
Wickets would come at regular intervals as NPBHS were dismissed in the 37th over for 130.
Jordan Gard put up some resistance with a run a ball 49, while Keene would be the main destroyer as he bagged six wickets for 36.
In reply, Hawera found themselves in early trouble as Zac Betteridge struck twice, leaving them 16 for two.
Ngoni Mupamba and Adam Keene combined for a 54-run partnership to steady the ship. Both scored half centuries in the process – Mupamba 53 and Keene 58.
Hawera would eventually go on and secure a 97-run 1st innings lead.
NPBHS had a nervous five overs to contend with at the end of the day but the openers did their job, getting to stumps six without loss.
Inglewood enjoyed a satisfying day against Woodleigh as they took control of their match.
Having won the toss and electing to bat Inglewood made 208 with Aaron Zame top scoring with 77 not out coming in at number four.
It wasn’t all plain sailing as one stage Inglewood were 84 for six.
However, Zame would combine with number nine, 10 and 11 who all made 20-plus to secure a competitive 1st innings total.
Woodleigh would straight away be under pressure as Jason Dombroki struck in his first over, the second of the innings, and after 3.1 overs Woodleigh found themselves one for three and then 23 for five.
Cam Black was the only Woodleigh batsman to show some fight as he ground his way to 53. But he didn’t find any support as Woodleigh were dismissed for 93, asked to follow on they faced four overs and ended the day one without loss
In a rematch of the one day final NPMU were asked to bat first against NPOB and put up a competitive 1st innings total of 208.
NPMU, who were short on numbers for day one, called in GJ Pike who topped scored with 64 – his first game of cricket for a number of years.
In the afternoon session NPOB were doing things comfortably as they moved through to 90 for one with Ben Mitchell and Jackson Braddock Pajo looking comfortable.
Enter Michael Blanks into the attack and the game was a different story – Mitchell would depart for 47 closely followed by Braddock for 45 and a collapse ensued, with NPOB all out for 176 and Blanks finishing with six for 58.
In the final game, FDMC look to have an uphill battle if they are going to save the game against Stratford.
Batting first, FDMC batsman once again struggled to compete at this level – being bowled out for 106.
Once again the star of the show for Stratford was Grant Commerford picking up 7 for 41.
FDMC would strike with the first ball of the Stratford innings which brought Finbar Moriarty to the crease to join Paul Lightoller.
These two combined for a 96-run partnership before Moriarty departed for 60,
Scott Anderson joined Lightoller and these two soon had 1st inning points wrapped up and continued on seeking bonus points.
Stratford finished on 350 for 9 with Lightoller falling agonisingly close to another Premier century as he was dismissed for 92.