Big guns on fire in two-day tussles
Top of the table New Plymouth Old Boys continued on their merry way after the Christmas break with a dominant display on day one of their third round premier match against Woodleigh.
Having won the toss and electing to bat first on the Sutherland Park wicket they soon lost opener Ben Mitchell in the fourth over.
Fellow opener Quinn Mills was joined by Will Young and the pair combined for a century stand before Mills was dismissed for 57. Young would continue on and show his class as he brought up his fifth century for the club before he was dismissed for 103, giving Scott Evans his fifth wicket of the innings.
NPOB declared immediately after they scored their fourth and final bonus point at 280 for six.
In reply the Woodleigh batsmen struggled in the final session as the NPOB seamers chipped away to have Woodleigh 74 for five at stumps, still trailing by 206 runs.
Across town at Lynmouth Park, New Plymouth Marist United won the toss and elected to bat against Ha¯ wera United. The NPMU batsman soon got on with their work with opener Dean Robinson setting the platform with 75. Sam Fastier top scored with 79 while Jarred Cunningham made 50 not out as NPMU declared at 282 for six securing all four bonus points.
Ha¯ wera lost opener Liam Fowler early before Rob Northcott and Ngoni Mupamba put on 61 for the second wicket, Northcott the first to go for 30. Left arm spinner Daniel Bernet struck twice quickly, firstly picking up the dangerous Adam Keene for a duck and then Karl Frost leaving Ha¯ wera 79 for four.
Going into the last half hour of play Mupamba and Amitoze Singh were seeing their side through to stumps until Bernet picked up his third wicket having Singh caught by Dean Robinson, Cunningham bowling the second to last over of the day picked up the prized wicket of Mupamba for
73. Ha¯ wera will start day two on
126 for six.
The Christmas break unfortunately has not changed the fortunes of the struggling Francis Douglas side as they were put to the slaughter by Inglewood on day one. FDMC won the toss and elected to bat but found themselves 31 for five inside the first hour of play, thankfully the tail wagged with Gareth Duffy batting at seven top scoring with 30 as they were dismissed for 112 midway through the second session. Richard Clough was the pick of the bowlers finishing with five for 24.
In reply the Inglewood batsman had no trouble in scoring as the opening pair of Aaron Zame and Aaron Taylor picked up first innings points, together putting on 141 for the first wicket. Taylor was dismissed one short of his half century. Zame went on to score his ninth premier century for Inglewood with 111.
Luke Dravitzki continued on where the openers left off, finishing the day 86 not out with Inglewood 305 for four.
In the final game of the round New Plymouth Boys’ High School travelled to take on Stratford.
Stratford, batting first, has Luke Gould to thank for their first innings total. Gould batted throughout the innings only to be the final man out for 89 off a mammoth 218 balls as Stratford were dismissed for 147. No other batsman could manage 20. Jack Parker was the pick of the NPBHS bowlers with four for 46.
In reply NPBHS were closing in on 1st innings points as they finished the day at 128 for three after being 35 for three – Jordan Gard and Jack Parker putting together an unbroken 93 run stand with Gard 59 not out and Parker 34 not out at the end of the day’s play.
Stratford stalwart Grant Commerford picked up his 500th premier wicket when he had Adam Lawrence caught behind for a duck. Congratulations to Grant for an amazing feat from everyone who has played with and against you.