New import makes fast start to cricket campaign
First indications look promising from Taita import Obus Pienaar.
The 26-year-old former South Africa under-19 allrounder made a more than useful start to life in Wellington club cricket, scoring 140 and taking 4-15 in his club’s 164-run win over Upper Hutt on Saturday. You can say what you like about the calibre of Saturday’s opponent, but Pienaar’s 3547 first-class runs in 65 appearances and 76 wickets at 28.43 suggest he’ll go all right against most teams this summer.
Pienaar last played for Free State in March, but is understood to be chasing a fresh start in New Zealand. With seven first-class hundreds under his belt - highest score of 212 - and a best-bowling of 8-86, he certainly looks handy.
Taita ran up 286/4 in their 50 overs against Upper Hutt, before knocking the visitors to Fraser Park over for 122.
At Naenae Park, former New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott struck 97 in Naenae Old Boys’ four-wicket win over Wellington Collegians. Former Wellington player Deepak Joon made 48 in Collegians’ 181/7, which Naenae chased down in 27 overs.
Jono Sole made an unbeaten 102 as Karori hung on to beat Onslow by five runs at Nairnville Park. Karori posted 230/9 which, as long as Malcolm Nofal was at the wicket, Onslow looked like they might chase down. Nofal went for 78, off Sole’s bowling and there was a thrilling finish as Peter Younghusband and Misty Jones-Middleton’s death bowling sealed victory for Karori.
Elsewhere Eastern Suburbs had a four-wicket win over Hutt District, after Lance Dry’s 4-23 saw Hutt bowled out for 111. University made 174/5 to beat North City and Johnsonville had a two-wicket victory against Petone-Eastbourne, after limping their way to 105/8.