Levin Old Boys retain cup
Road warriors take on Whanganui’s best on their track
Levin Old Boys won their third Coastal Challenge Cup at the weekend, their second in succession, continuing their dominance in the one-day format. Last season LOB beat Paraparaumu Medical Centre Cricket Club at home at Donnelly Park. This time they had to travel away to play Whanganui United at Victoria Park, and their class players again rose to the occasion.
LOB won the toss, captain Dion Sanson electing to bat first. That decision was justified by a top order that did the job with Bailey Te Tomo (71), Jesse Parker (32), Andrew Simpson (33) and Matt Good (59) setting the side up for very defendable 261-run target.
The top order scored quickly and at one stage a score of 300-plus looked likely, especially with Te Tomo set, but he finally succumbed to Hobbs combination, with Carter taking the catch off uncle Gerard's bowling at 156-3.
Cue the long handle of Good though, who hit eight 4s and a 6.
Then came some bad luck for veteran United allrounder Tom Lance. He managed to snare the wicket of Good with what was almost a solo lbw appeal, only to moments later suffer a compound fracture of the knuckle which depleted the United batting stocks somewhat as he was relegated to a reluctant number 11.
Lance moved to field a straight drive from Ryan Taylor and was hit hard in the hand, leaving the bone was poking through the skin of his little finger.
LOB captain Dion Sanson kept some momentum going with 21 from 24 balls, but when Taylor was trapped in front by Chris Sharrock, it fired up Duane Maraki at the other end.
Maraki had Sanson caught in the slips soon after and then removed the threat of Curtis Maclachlan and Daemon Kennett off consecutive balls. LOB tailender Joel Bishop survived the hat-trick delivery and hung around long enough with Bernard O'Brien (12 not out) to get Levin to 261 before Maraki bowled Bishop with an over to go.
LOB opening bowler Kennett did the job early in removing top order batsmen Gerard Hobbs and Sam Roebuck in consecutive deliveries in his first over — both caught behind by keeper Bernard O'Brien for ducks.
But a fine 84 to opener Greg Smith and resistance from Carter Hobbs with 55 had their team going well at 125-2.
Hobbs was watchful but showed he could clear the boundary when needed with three straight hits that went for 6, but he succumbed to a brilliant spell from veteran allrounder Ryan Taylor that put the game beyond doubt.
Taylor sent Hobbs' bails flying, then clean bowled Sharrock before he got going. Once Smith and Hobbs went there were no other scores of note from the Whanganui batsmen.
Taylor took 4-36 and LOB took the last seven wickets for 83 to ultimately secure a comfortable 81-run victory. There was one Whanganui milestone achieved in the match, as local umpire Cliff Tootell officiated his 250th game.
The win brings LOB equal with Paraparaumu Medical Centre CC for the number of Coastal Challenge titles — three apeice. LOB beat Paraparaumu last season.