Swartz blasts 11 sixes to put University in control
A six-hitting onslaught from Victoria University’s Franscois Swartz highlighted a day where batsmen largely struggled in Wellington twoday club cricket matches.
The power hitting left-hander endangered passing cars at Kelburn Park with his knock of 121 off 68 balls, which gave the hosts a flying start to their Hazlett Trophy match against Naenae.
Swartz thumped 11 sixes and eight fours as University racked up 336 before being dismissed in the 57th over. James Boyle was relatively sedate in their fifth wicket stand of 179, with his innings of 94 off 119 balls featuring 13 boundaries.
At stumps on day one, University were in control of Naenae who were 13-3 in reply.
In the Pearce Cup top-six, Johnsonville and Taita’s bowling attacks both made strong starts against powerful opponents.
At Kilbirnie Park, Sam Outtrim took 4-25 to help Johnsonville polish off Eastern Suburbs’ first innings for 151. Opener Ben Orton’s 58 was Easts’ best knock. In reply Johnsonville were 64-3 to leave the match evenly poised entering day two.
At Karori Park the hosts had Firebirds batsman Stephen Murdoch in their ranks but could manage only 173 batting first against Taita who were 57-3 in reply.
Murdoch scored 44 as no one could crack the half-century for Karori who were dismissed in the 54th over. Taita’s Matt Kelly (4-55) and Mark Houghton (3-28) ran through the lower half of Karori’s order.
In the final Pearce Cup game, Hutt District opener Troy Johnson was poised on 98 against Upper Hutt when the weather intervened.
Johnson provided dour resistance, facing 195 balls as Hutt ended 169-4 off the 64.3 overs that were possible on day one.
In other Hazlett Trophy matches, 14 wickets tumbled on day one at Nairnville Park. North City opener Amandeep Singh’s innings of 85 shone like a beacon as they were skittled for 151, before Onslow crumpled to 23-4 in reply at stumps.
At the Petone Rec, Wellington Collegians posted 212 thanks to knocks of 69 from Ben McMahon and 62 from Deepak Joon, and Petone-Eastbourne were 72-2 in reply.