Bowlers key in Waikaka victory

CRICKET

Logan Savory Waikaka banked their first win for the 2012-13 season in Southland’s Combined Country cricket competition on Saturday after a spirited bowling display led them to victory over last season’s semifinalists Wyndale.

Batting first in the game, played at Wyndham, Waikaka were put under plenty of pressure from Wyndale bowler Daniel Stronach, who took an impressive five for 16 to restrict Waikaka to 112, and at the change of innings would have been confident.

However, the Waikaka bowlers were also ready to get into their work to defend that small target as Sam Small and Corey Reed played starring roles in the victory.

Small picked up three wickets for only four runs, and Reed took two for 15. Simon van Dam turned in a man-of-the-match performance to lead Tuatapere to be joint competition leaders when they beat Appleby at Tuatapere on Saturday.

Van Dam chipped in with 87 as his team got through to 229 for none from their 40 overs.

In reply, Appleby’s Glenn Williams contributed 47 as his team did well to get through to 163 but it was still 66 runs short of victory.

Riversdale banked a five-wicket win over Invercargill-Old Boys on Saturday but were made to work hard in their chase.

Batting first, Invercargill-Old Boys posted just 74, which set up the Riversdale victory.

However, Anna Wilson again impressed for Invercargill-Old Boys with the ball as Riversdale lost five wickets chasing down the small score.

After taking six wickets against Lumsden last weekend, Wilson took three for 11 against Riversdale.

Waikoikoi were robbed by the rain and the fact that the Combined Country competition doesn’t have a system to find a winner in games when rain cuts them short.

The Metro Cubs batted first against Waikoikoi at Waikoikoi, and mustered 138 before losing their last wicket in the 36th over.

The innings was built around Karl McKee’s 41, while Daniel Mills (30) provided a late flurry with his knock, which included two sixes.

Jared McKenzie picked up three wickets for Waikoikoi, as did Grant Anderson playing against his old club.

Waikoikoi lost three relatively early wickets in their chase but there is a lot of batting power in this Waikoikoi side and it showed.

Former North Otago Hawke Cup player Glenn Paterson posted an unbeaten 64, which included three sixes and five fours, while Jared McKenzie was unbeaten on 21 when the heavy rain hit.