Raine shines in Riccarton win
English pro Ben Raine delivered a man of the match showing as in-form Riccarton won their fourth straight match in the Christchurch Metro premier oneday competition.
Raine, a county cricketer for Leicestershire, was menacing with 5-12 from 10 overs with his right-arm pace and notched 50 with the bat in Riccarton’s 18-run win over Lancaster Park.
Saturday’s victory all but assures Riccarton of a top four semifinal berth with two rounds to play. Riccarton, who are chasing their first 50-over title since 1997-98, sit second on the table, one point back from leaders St Albans.
Riccarton got through to 172, batting first, having been in trouble at 44-4 with Park’s Ben McCord nabbing three early wickets.
That was largely in part due to Raine and experienced allrounder Ben Rapson, who combined for a 92-run fifth wicket stand, which formed the bulk of their total.
Raine top-scored with 50 and Rapson provided solid support, scoring a patient 43 from 99 balls.
The 26-year-old Raine then stepped up with the ball, making early inroads into the Park top order. He gained the key wicket of Andrew Hazeldine, who impressed with 59, late in Park’s innings to secure victory.
Saints retained first place after a tense five-run win over East Christchurch Shirley in the closest finish of the day. Chasing 216, Easts seemed to be cruising with openers Tim Hampton-Matehe and Leo Carter adding 106 for the first wicket.
When Hampton-Matehe departed for 63, they were still in a dominant position at 141-2 in the 29th over, but unravelled losing their last eight wickets for 69 runs.
James Southby was Saints’ hero, capturing 5-22 from his 10 overs to turn the match their way.
South African recruit Tyler Lortan continues to catch the eye for Saints, backing up his 98 from the last round with 91, which came off 136 balls.
Defending champions Old Boys Collegians overcame Burnside West Christchurch University by 79 runs to remain firmly in the semifinal hunt.
Openers David Wakefield (89) and Tom Taylor (68) got OBC off to a fine start as they set BWCU an imposing 284 to win.
BWCU never really threatened with legspinner Todd Astle, who brought up his 100th first class match for Canterbury against Wellington last week, and pace bowler Morgan Jeffery both
taking three wickets.
In the bottom of the table battle, Sydenham made it back-to-back victories with an eight wicket triumph over winless Marist Harewood.
Young English batsman Tom
Hewison, 18, was in the runs again with an unbeaten 69 as Sydenham eased home with 7.1 overs to spare.
South African medium-pacer Ryan Wallace was effective earlier in the day, snaring 5-32.