Whanganui hosts 2022 champions
Whanganui hosts 2021-22’s Coastal Challenge Cup finalists in the third round in Whanganui today.
After last weekend’s cricket was rained off, with Property Brokers United making the trek to Levin but unable to get onto Donnelly Park, picking up a result this weekend against a competition favourite could prove crucial for getting the momentum to be in title contention come March.
United will face a foe they know very well in three-time Coastal champions Paraparaumu Medical Centre CC, while Wanganui Vet Services Marist hosts defending champions Levin Old Boys.
Levin and Paraparaumu met in last summer’s all-horowhenuakapiti final, with Levin prevailing for their second title.
Still holding second spot on the ladder after they were unable to play Levin last Saturday, United need the best result possible, as after this weekend they have one more home game, plus two away and the bye.
All three of Paraparaumu’s championships were won against United in the finals, two of them when United hosted at Victoria Park as top qualifier.
United’s team to play against Levin was altered from the team who dispatched Marist in the opening round.
Century-maker Daniel Burgess was not in the travelling lineup, while former representative spinner Dylan Martin was down to make his reappearance.
Paraparaumu, meanwhile, also need a good result after a surprise first-up away loss to Weraroa CC in the first round.
The likes of Byron Gill, Hayden Mourits and Kyle Armstrong got a few runs, but not enough as the rest of the lineup fell cheaply to be all out for 142, which despite Jayden Keats taking a couple of wickets, was chased down by the home side in 26 overs.
After their loss to United in Round 1, Marist were going to take a more settled lineup down to Masterton to play Burger King Red Star last Saturday.
Most of that squad have committed again for this match, with at least two of the O’leary family in Hadleigh and Connor playing, as will representative players Nick Harding, Angus Dinwiddie, and in his belated debut, former Whanganui Collegiate 1st XI skipper Josh Allpress.
The Kinnerley’s – Ross and Fraser – if available, along with Mark Fraser, John Mcilraith and Chris Stewart could give the home side their strongest combination.
Levin have that champions mentality – as proved in Round 1 when they were bowled out for only 138 against Kapiti Old Boys, but still went on to win by 62 runs. Allrounder Dion Sanson was in strong form, top scoring with 45 from the bat and then taking 5-19 with the ball. Bailey Te Tomo, Ryan Taylor and Curtis Maclachlan also had good games. The other match of the round will be Weraroa hosting Red Star at their domain. All games start at 12pm.
Draw for February 3, Coastal Challenge Cup 50-over
Wanganui Vet Services Marist vs Levin Old Boys
Property Brokers United vs Paraparaumu Medical Centre CC
Weraroa CC vs Burger King Red Star
Bye: Kapiti Old Boys
After last weekend’s Combined Twenty20 playoffs were rained out, the P240 competition will resume, with the nine Premier 2 teams, later to be joined by inaugural Premier 1 club Wanganui Renegades, meeting in fixtures across the town.