NPBHS beat Stratford
New Plymouth Boys’ High School
1st XI have gone top of the table in one-day premier competition with a comprehensive win against Stratford CC.
Having won the toss and elected to bat first the school side was under pressure early, finding themselves 33 for 4 after 11 overs.
Jordan Gard batted with composure beyond his years as he combined with Shale Foy for a
57-run partnership. Gard was dismissed for 57 off 87 balls while Foy made 34.
Once these two had departed the Stratford bowlers mopped up the tail quickly, dismissing NPBHS for 145 in the 44th over. Grant Commerford was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25 off nine overs, with Thomas Starkes also picking up three wickets. Stratford keeper Oli Hall had a good day behind the stumps, completing six dismissals.
At the lunch break, Stratford would have been happy with where they were positioned, especially with Black Cap Tom Bruce in the lineup. At 54 for two, Stratford were well on top with Bruce looking comfortable for his first bat of the season. The introduction of left arm spinner Liam Carr turned the game on its head as he snared the vital wicket of
Bruce LBW for 35 before repeating the dose to Stratford captain Paul Lightoller.
Archie Taylor bowled in partnership with Carr, taking six for 12 off seven overs, Stratford losing their last eight wickets for just 10 runs.
In the other matches, New Plymouth Old Boys and Woodleigh played out a nailbiter. NPOB posted 215, winning by one run.
New Plymouth Marist United picked up a vital bonus point victory over Hawera United. Batting first, NPMU posted 234 for eight. In reply, the Hawera batsmen struggled against the NPMU attack and lost wickets regularly, being dismissed for 111 in only 32 overs.
Inglewood, as predicted, inflicted more pain on Francis Douglas with a comfortable 118-run victory. The concern for Inglewood was they were bowled out without completing their 50 overs, this time for 182. Francis Douglas was dismissed for 64 with only two batsmen making double figures.
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