Old Boys set pace for final
Old Boys have taken the lead in Hamilton’s Eddy Marr Bowl club competition, but have a tough four weekends in store as they look to secure a spot in the final.
On Saturday their four-wicket win over Shenanigans Fraser-Tech in their one-day match at Galloway Park saw Ricoh Old Boys jump ahead of The Bank Star University, as they went down to Lonestar Hamilton Boys’ High School by 54 runs at the school ground.
HBHS’ victory puts them hot on the heels of Star, and a clear top three have emerged with two two-day fixtures remaining before the three-day Howden Cup decider.
Old Boys are well placed but their remaining matches are against the other sides in the top three, so there is still work to be done.
At the weekend they were pushed by Tech but won with 23 balls to spare.
Tech were on track to post a good score, led by Matt Hay’s 71, and with handy contributions from Ryan Smith (42) and Nick Trebilcock (37). But from 186-5, Tech fell away badly, and were bowled out for 192 in 45.2 overs, with offspinner Satvir Singh the pick of the bowlers with 3-19 off 7.2.
In reply Old Boys were always on track, but wickets did stall their progress. However, Anish Desai’s 61 proved crucial and got them close enough for the job to be finished by those below him.
A depleted Star side were outgunned by two fantastic individual performances.
Firstly, Nick O’Sullivan’s splendid 101 not out paved the way for HBHS to post 274-7. Coming in at No 4 in the 20th over, the right-hander built his way into the innings and batted through, while Harsmiran Mahal (3-39 off 10) limited the damage for Star.
Facing an uphill task, Star were led by opener Hamish Forsman’s 71, but were bowled out for 220 in 48 overs, as offspinner Ravi Pathirana claimed a super seven wickets.
The Sri Lankan Year 12 student was expensive in going for 66 off his 10, but his prodigious turn proved too good, as he rattled the stumps of four players and had two others stumped.
In the other match, at Galloway Park, The Riv Marist-Suburbs made more ground on fifth-placed Tech after beating Gallagher Melville by 48 runs.
A 102-run partnership for the second wicket between opener Shaun Devoy (53) and Ugandan international Raymond Otim (78) put Marist-Suburbs in a dominant early spot, before a blazing 94 from Maison Carstensen, who was out on the last ball of the innings, got them through to 285-5.
Melville looked solid in response at 97-1, thanks to a brisk 75 from opener Josh Lenssen, but his wicket was the first of three to fall for 18 runs.
Jared Pye’s 66 gave Melville hope, but he was the eighth man out, and with just 10 players, Melville succumbed for 237 in 42.3 overs.