Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Marlborough too strong for Buller
It was great to spend time on Saturday morning watching some of the Superstar Kiwi Cricket action at Lansdowne Park and chatting to parents looking after the teams.
Both the girls and boys competitions seem to be running well and the players certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.
A popular addition this year is player of the day certificates for each team sponsored by Tasty Pot and we have started to receive player of the day pictures from teams. Keep sending these in and we will post on our Facebook site.
In other cricket action over last weekend Marlborough proved far too strong for Buller in its Hawke Cup round 1 game which featured an outstanding innings of 198 from MCA Development Manager Prabodha Arthavidu.
This was Artha’s third century of the season and came from 221 balls featuring 15 fours and two sixes as Marlborough made 386 for 7 batting first. Josh Poole with 64 and Matt Stretch with a rapid 56no provided good support before Jerrym Lamb tore through the visitors batting taking 7 wickets for 4 runs from 8 overs as Buller were well and truly routed for 50.
They fared no better the second time around limping to 45 all out as the game was wrapped up by lunch on the second day. Marlborough faces a tougher opponent this weekend as they travel to Rangiora to play Canterbury Country.
In 2nd grade games Wairau Valley continued their 100 per cent winning record confirming its place in the December 15 final and ending Wairau Warriors hopes at the same time.
Greg Stretch top scored for Valley with 36 and Paul Moran took 3 for 11 from 8 overs as the Warriors fell just 14 runs short.
Renwick also confirmed their final spot with a convincing win at Picton. Piers Landon-Lane reached his maiden club century making exactly 100 from 86 balls before Tony McKenzie ran through the Picton batting with 5 wickets for 17 runs. In senior grade T20 first round action there were wins for Wairau over Renwick and Celtic over MBC.
In WK junior 4th grade games Wairau Blue managed a 9 run victory over Renwick thanks to Carter Aitken (41) with the bat and brothers Tim Petrie (3 for 17) and Luke (4 for 12) with the ball. For Renwick Griffin Carter made 42 and Benji Nation 30, while Quin Holdaway took 3 for 21 in a fine and competitive game.
In the other game for which a result was received Wairau White were far too strong for Wairau Black with Flynn Hawtin again in the runs with 39 well supported by Leo Marfell (39) and Baxter Croad (31).
There is plenty of cricket action for local watchers this weekend with the start of the 2nd grade T20 competition on Thursday evening, senior grade T20 on Friday evening plus junior grades continuing over the weekend along with final round of games in the 2nd grade 40 over competition on Saturday.