NPMU assert their dominance
NPMU v Inglewood
What a difference seven days can make. After coming off a big win against top of the table New Plymouth Old Boys, Inglewood were embarrassed by a dominant New Plymouth Marist United side at the weekend.
Inglewood won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision they were soon regretting as Taranaki opener Dean Robinson combined with Robson Chapman to put on 82 for the first wicket.
Chapman was the first to go one run short of his half century. When Robinson was dismissed in the 31st over for 67 NPMU were well set up at
157 for 3.
Marist captain Kurt Leuthart continued the momentum, making a half century to allow the middle order the freedom to swing the willow. Ryan Watson and Josh Barrett combined for a 59-run partnership off just 27 balls to finish the innings, Watson finishing 50 not out off 34 balls and Barrett 32 off 14. NPMU completing their 50 overs scoring 293 for 7.
If Inglewood were to get close they needed their top order to fire. Aaron Zame battled well for his 27 but was the only Inglewood batsman to make it to double figures.
Inglewood would be dismissed for
73 giving NPMU a win by a massive 220 runs. Shay Smit was the standout bowler taking 5 wickets.
Woodleigh v Ha¯ wera
Woodleigh kept their hopes alive of a semifinal with a bonus point victory over Ha¯ wera, played on grass at Sutherland Park. Woodleigh won the toss and elected to bat first on the fresh wicket. Taranaki batsman Shaun Sullivan, playing his second game of the season after a broken arm, was dismissed for a duck. Fellow opener Jess Vertongen made 29 as the Woodleigh top order ticked the scoreboard over. Josh Quinney (31), Josh Roguski (33) and Mitchell Proffit (32) all made starts to help Woodleigh through to 125 for 4 after 26 overs and a platform was set. Unfortunately, the middle order could not take advantage of it as the final 5 batsmen failed to make double figures, Woodleigh were all out for 181. Left arm spinner Rob Northcott picking up 4 for 35.
Ha¯ wera openers Liam Fowler and Luke Kerehoma were both dismissed cheaply. They were followed by the Amitoze Singh and Adam Keene as Ha¯ wera found themselves 30 for 4, Jack Fowler would top score with 35 and Rob Northcott made 28 to add some respectability into the score but Ha¯ wera were never a chance as they were dismissed for 118.
NPOB v Stratford
New Plymouth Old Boys rebounded from their first loss of the season in strong fashion as they defeated Stratford by 8 wickets.
Stratford, batting first, could only muster 63 all out, with Viranchi Upadhyay doing the damage with 6 for 8 off 8 overs. Stratford had a brief highlight as Christopher Coombe dismissed both openers cheaply but Taranaki duo of Davis Mills and Mattie Thomas would combine for a 44 run unbroken partnership to see NPOB home inside 20 overs.
NPBHS v FDMC
The battle of the school sides was a one-sided encounter as NPBHS picked up a bonus point victory over FDMC by 9 wickets.
Asked to bat first, the FDMC batsman showed some grit against their fellow school counterparts but they ultimately struggled to turn the scoreboard over. Jacob Mortensen top scored with 20 with a further 6 batsmen making double figures. Oliver Burbidge picked up 5 for 28.
The run chase was a complete contrast of what was seen in the first innings as the NPBHS batsmen had no trouble scoring, Sebastian Lauderdale Smith (78 not out) combined with captain Ben Frewin (51 not out) for a 127-run partnership to see NPBHS score the winning runs in the 24th over.