Top three teams push their grand final claims

out with the end in sight at 95-2.

The in-form Chris Stewart joined O’Leary to administer the last rites, although there was not enough of a target left for the talented batter to raise his half century.

That meant ultimately family bragging rights went to Tim O’Leary with the Whanganui Collegiate First XI, whose decisive 108 at the top of the innings set up his team, throwing down the gauntlet to Saracens with 257-8.

Theo Tripe (15) and skipper Connor Rees (23) supported O’Leary, and although Marton secured a succession of middle-order wickets, led by Freddy Lane (3-51) and Daniel Ford (2-30), Collegiate had a sting in the tail.

Angus Pearce (39 not out) and Hamish McVerry (20) did their part to make sure Collegiate cleared the 250-run mark.

Playing without the Rayners, Dominic and Chris, Saracens had to improvise with former representative spinner Bryant Galpin taking the wicketkeeper gloves and securing a stumping.

But while Marton’s openers Thomas Westwood and Lane reached double figures, the whole line-up was soon swept through as the Saracens were bowled out for 83 in the 28th over.

Pearce (5-14) and Harry McVerry (4-19), playing against older brother Oscar, wrecked the Marton line-up with six overs each, only Brett Cunningham (16) showing some resistance in the lower order.

The win keeps Collegiate as the only undefeated team in the competition, as their opening game with United was rained out. They sit second on the table on run rate, but with a game in hand on both leaders United and third-placed Marist.

Saturday’s Premier 2 Twenty20 competition saw the Wicket Warriors Whanganui move to the top of the table, but not without a real test by Property Brokers United P2, who lost by nine runs.

The Kaitoke Knight Riders secured their first win of the competition, beating Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens by four wickets.

SCOREBOARD

Premier 1

Whanganui Renegades 152 (H Carver 27, B Heap 26, T Tatana 24, M Deighton 23; J Woodford 4-27, C Sharrock 2-24, A Patel 2-26) lost to Property Brokers United 154-1 (M Boswell 82no, D Burgess 44) by nine wickets. Whanganui High School First XI 110 (H Burroughs 51; J Allpress 4-17, R Kinnerley 3-29, S O’Leary 2-17) lost to Wanganui Vet Services Marist 111-2 (S O’Leary 46no, J Clark 40) by eight wickets.

Whanganui Collegiate First XI 257-8 (T O’Leary 108, A Pearce 39no, C Rees 20, H McVerry 20; F Lane 3-51, D Ford 2-30) bt Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens 83 (A Pearce 5-14, H McVerry 4-19) by 174 runs. Premier 2 Twenty20

Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens T20 110-5 (K Stentbridge 48no, S Edwards 23; F Edwards 2-15) lost to Kaitoke Knight Riders 112-6 (Z Payne-Potaka 51, T Waitere 13; F Caincross 2-20) by four wickets. Wicket Warriors Whanganui 117-7 (A Coelho 23, S Sreekumar 19, N Vazhavannoor 18no; Z Small 2-19, K Hoestra 2-26) bt Property Brokers United P2 108-9 (K Bremer 26no, A Toy 24; A Varghese 3-15, L Varghese 2-5) by nine runs.