PINT run feast on as Kiwis add clout
PINT Cricket Club’s New Zealand connection has fired again with twin centuries to Josh Clarkson and Jesse Ryder lifting the Greens to 484 against Waratah.
The two-day match at Gardens Oval turned into a runfest after opening bat Josh Neill’s 99 from 144 balls set the foundation.
Neill and Simon Lavers (47) put on 129 for the second wicket before the Clarkson and Ryder show began.
Neill was caught at slip one short of his century from the spin of James Seymour, who finished with 4-128 from his 24.1 overs.
Clarkson hit 13 boundaries and five sixes in his 106 from 77 balls and former Black Cap Ryder only needed another four balls to get his first century in Darwin cricket.
“It was one of those days in cricket when you never know what will happen,’’ Clarkson told the Sunday Territorian.
“You have to cash in while you can and Jesse had a bit of fun out there as well, he carried on the damage after I went out.
“We might look fairly safe with that sort of score (484) but cricket can produce a lot of different scenarios and we have to turn up next week and do everything well.’’
Ladder leaders Southern Districts are in trouble against Tracy Village, struggling to 223 against their spinners.
From the moment Todd Murphy took an Australian football mark on the midwicket boundary to dismiss Damien Burrage, the Districts innings went backwards.
Burrage’s 47 and a patient 62 from Dean Fry got the Crocodiles to their final score.
And Nightcliff resumed normal service against Palmerston after openers Matt Spoors and Adi Dave put on 88 for the first wicket.
The left-arm spin of Palmerston skipper Jayden Lennox (5-72) and leg spin of Kyle Gardiner (4-54) made sure the Tigers’ last 10 wickets fell for only 146 runs.