Wakefield leads OBC to crucial win
Semifinal berths are wide open in the Christchurch Metro premier one-day competition with a round to go after leaders St Albans and Riccarton both lost on Saturday.
In what has been an extremely even competition, six sides remain in contention for a top four spot with only winless Marist Harewood and East Christchurch Shirley out of the running.
Just three points separate the top four teams, setting up a tense final round this Saturday.
Defending champions Old Boys Collegians are hitting form at exactly the right stage, overcoming top of the table Saints by four wickets at Elmwood Park.
Opener David Wakefield delivered a captain’s knock for OBC, notching 93 from 117 balls as they chased down their target of 240 with 3.5 overs spare.
Wakefield received strong assistance from No.3 Ben Ward, who contributed 57 and shared in a 143-run second wicket stand. Jack Lewis also chimed in with a nice cameo, belting 49 from 38 balls.
OBC did well to peg Saints back with the bat after they looked set for close to 300 with top order batsmen Tyler Lortan and Dan Sharples at the wicket.
South African Lortan, who has played first class cricket for KwaZulu-Natal Inland, continued his impressive recent run, topscoring with 63 in the losing cause.
Burnside West Christchurch University stalwart Matt Farrant steered his side to an unlikely victory with an unbeaten 79, ending Riccarton’s four match winning run.
BWCU were in absolute strife at 77-6 chasing Riccarton’s 229, but Farrant, batting at seven, and wicketkeeper Joel Williams gave them the partnership they desperately needed.
Farrant and Williams added 92 for the seventh wicket to provide hope.
Veteran Scott Inglis chipped in with a handy 15 not out in an unbroken 61-run partnership with Farrant to lead BWCU to a three wicket win with seven balls left. Allrounder Ben Rapson anchored Riccarton’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 87 from 121 balls, which included 10 fours.
Sydenham made it three consecutive wins with a 29-run triumph over Easts.
Dylan Goldstone produced a man-of-the-match showing for Sydenham, top-scoring with 47, then chiming in with three wickets.
Defending 205, Sydenham received a balanced bowling effort with the Gardner brothers, Mitchell and Braden, and Ryan Wallace all nabbing two wickets.
Easts were in charge at 122-2 in the 29th over, but the departure of key batsmen Tim Hampton-Matehe and Darren
Broom triggered a collapse for the second week in a row.
Lancaster Park ran out comfortable six wicket victors over Marist Harewood, chasing down 125 inside 23 overs.