Melville claim much-delayed one-day title

Aaron Goile Melville have won Hamilton club cricket’s Hec Holland Plate one-day competition, with a three-wicket win over Hamilton Boys’ High School in yesterday’s final at Galloway Park.

The decider had been a long time coming, with the five regular season rounds being played through October-November last year, with the final originally slated for Sunday December 21, before it was postponed because of wet weather.

With Hamilton Cricket scheduling no play on Saturday due to the World Cup match in Auckland, they took the chance to stage the three grades’ one-day finals yesterday.

AT A GLANCE

Lonestar Hamilton Boys’ High School took out the Twenty20 competition earlier in the season but weren’t able to add another piece of silverware, as Gallagher Melville had a grip on the match throughout the hot day and comfortably chased down HBHS’s 194.

After being sent in HBHS slumped to 1-1 and relied on contributions from Joe Walk- er (46) and Paddy Carsons (45), who shared in a 55-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Seamer Oliver Henry (who took 3-22 off 7.3 overs) and off-spinner Mitchell Dickeson (3-35 off seven) were the pick of the bowlers for Melville, who had to endure a frustrating unbeaten 32 from No 10 Cooper Rowell, who put on 44 for the ninth wicket with Walker, before HBHS were dismissed in 48.3 overs.

Melville made a fine start in reply, with openers Harry Clark (58) and Clintin Price (34) combining for a 69-run opening stand, before Keir Bettley (37) and Michael Dodunski (35) also chipped in, as Melville won in 44.3 overs.

aaron.goile@fairfaxmedia.co.nz