Final push for top four positions in Expert Turf Premier two day cricket
The top four is all but sorted but there is still room for some late surprises and jockeying for position when the final round robin matches of Expert Turf Premier two-day cricket get underway tomorrow.
Merit RV NPOB, Nag N’ Noggin NPMU and Stumble Inn Woodleigh all have top four spots locked in, while Stratford is still comfortably positioned in fourth, 10 points clear of fifth-placed Whitaker Civil FDMC.
The College side, Metcalfe Real Estate Hawera United and the NPBHS First XI all have mathematical chances of going through, but would require close to maximum points in their games, and rely on Stratford to go down heavily, without picking up points in the process.
Civil Quarries Inglewood are out of the running after a tough two-day campaign.
Round Six match outcomes saw the top four sides solidify their positions, and there were some remarkable results and performances over the round.
The top four clash between Woodleigh and NPOB at Sutherland Park couldn’t have started better for the home side. With NPOB missing seven players on rep duties at the Chapple Cup, Woodleigh capitalised, making 257 batting first, with Josh Roguski top scoring with 87 and Luca Heyen impressing with 54. Viranchi Upadhyay took 5/37 with the ball.
Woodleigh’s bowlers did the job in the first innings, dismissing Old Boys for a fighting 173 to take first innings points. Zac Betteridge took 5/43 with the ball, while Old Boy’s top scorer was opener Jackson Braddock-Pajo, who did a sterling job to carry his bat overnight as Old Boys waited for the cavalry to arrive on day two.
But once their rep players returned, Old Boys wasted little time in turning the match around. Starting with a first innings lead of 84, Woodleigh slumped to 125/9 before declaring, with Mattie Thomas picking up 4/34. Set 209 to win, Old Boys made light work of the chase, tracking down the total in the 30th over for the loss of just three wickets, with opener Jack Parker left stranded on 97 not out. Braddock-Pajo continued his good form with a solid 46 at the top of the innings, while Josh Borrell made 53.
It would have been a deflating result for Woodleigh, but with the consolation of plenty of bonus points picked up, while it also served as a reminder of just how dangerous NPOB will be at the knockout end of the comp.
Marist and Stratford both picked up big outright wins over Inglewood and Hawera.
For Marist, the innings and 106-run win over Inglewood allowed them to close the gap at the top of the table to just four points. At Lynmouth Park, Inglewood won the toss and opted to bat, but the failure of their batsmen to convert starts into big scores cost them as they were dismissed for just 109. Jack Southern was the top Marist wicket taker with 3/23.
Marist was then able to build a powerful lead with openers Robson Chapman (65) and Daniel Bernet (64) getting the innings off to a good start and Robbie Yule then cashing in with 61 not out. Vatsal Gajjar took 3/76. Declaring at 280/6 by the close of Day 1, Marist never looked in danger on day two, running through the Inglewood order for just 65 runs bringing the match to an early close. Reeve Nelley bagged 3/6 off a tight eight-over spell.
In Stratford, a game that was nicely poised after day one became a rout on day two, as Stratford bowler Grant Commerford stepped up with outstanding figures of 8/13, including a hattrick. Stratford had sent the visitors in to bat and restricted Hawera to 179 with Rob Northcott (78) and Sam Conway (58) top scoring. By the close of play on day one Stratford was close to securing first innings points, with Ross Forrester again a key player, hitting 59. The score was surpassed early on a showery second day, and Stratford ended up with a 53-run first innings lead. Joel Soothill took 3/22 for the southerners. After that it was Commerford’s time to shine as Hawera were unceremoniously skittled for just 38 runs in 37 overs, including Commerford’s hattrick to close out the game and give Stratford an innings and 15-run win.
The final game, the always anticipated NPBHS vs FDMC First XI grudge match, was high scoring and toughly competed for a contest which ended in a draw, with first innings points going to NPBHS.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat, openers Logan Hislop and Stirling Mon put on a superb opening partnership – each player scoring a century before each was dismissed on 115. With first drop Taene Nelley (57 not out) also in good nick, Boys High worked their way to 334/6 before declaring in the 78th over.
Knowing they had a big task ahead of them, FDMC responded admirably, with Aaron Zame (63), Daniel Butler (39) and Jack Rangiwahia (56) all batting well. In the end though, NPBHS just had too many runs on the board and the captain’s shook hands when Francis Douglas’ stand came to an end 86 runs short.
Both sides managed to earn enough points to stay in the hunt for a semifinal spot, although each will have a daunting task in their final round matches if they are to do so.
New Plymouth Boys High School will have to take down Marist at Lynmouth Park, while FDMC has an equally difficult assignment against NPOB at Western Park.
The remaining two matches will see Woodleigh travel south to Hawera’s TSB Hub, while Stratford will make the short trip north to Inglewood and will come up against a home team playing for pride.
Full details of the Expert Turf Premier 2-day comp, including scorecards, points tables and live scores can be found here at PlayHQ.
