Karori and Onslow sit top
It all came down to the last ball at
Kilbirnie Park.
For University the equation was three runs to beat, or two to tie, Eastern Suburbs, in their Ewen Chatfield Trophy 50-over match. Adam Leonard, on 62, took strike to Easts captain and legspinner Lance Dry; a man well accustomed to prevailing when a match is on the line.
Leonard swung for the ropes and was stumped, to hand Easts a two-run win, having posted 215-8 batting first. Easts now sit third on the table, after two rounds of the Wellington club season, a point behind Karori and Onslow who each recorded healthy bonus-point wins.
Karori got their’s courtesy of a crushing 10-wicket win over Naenae Old Boys, while Onslow were six-wicket victors over Upper Hutt.
After bowling Naenae out for 142, Karori openers Stephen Murdoch (82 not out) and Jacob Bhula (47 not out) got to their target inside 22 overs.
Things were a little more even at Nairnville Park, where a run-a-ball 72 from Ben Shields and an unbeaten 50 from Malcolm Nofal saw Onslow overhaul Upper Hutt’s score of 145.
The sole hundred of the round came courtesy of Deepak Joon. Once of Wellington Collegians, Joon made 129 not out in Hutt District’s imposing innings of 279-4 against his old club.
Collegians never seriously threatened to chase the down, finishing their 50 overs on 230-8.
Some late heroics from Gian Botha (48) and Blake Parata (38 not out) saw Petone-Eastbourne register a one-wicket win over North City at Linden. Chasing 193, Petone didn’t make the greatest of starts but got there in the end.
Johnsonville weren’t able to do similar, in their clash with Taita. Set 239, Johnsonville started well but ended up being bowled out for 217. Patrick Smith took 4-35 for Taita.