Metcalfe Real Estate Hawera United Cricket Club finish top of the table for the Expert Turf Premier Red-Ball Declaration format.

A big congratulations to Metcalfe Real Estate Hawera United Cricket Club, who finished top of the table at the end of the Expert Turf Premier Red-Ball Declaration format.

The side secured top seeding with a dramatic final ball win over Merit RV NPOB in their Round 7 top of the table clash in Hawera.

With NPOB posting a respectable 219/8 before their 60th over compulsory declaration, with Rupert Young contributing a fine 71 and Jordan Gard a vital 44, Hawera was going to need a strong performance with the bat to secure the points needed to overtake Old Boys in the standings.

Enter Trent McGrath, a leading performer in both representative and club cricket this season. McGrath’s 98 not out led the way to victory for the home side, combining for a fine 89-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ngoni Mupamba (56).

With the run rate required always kept to a manageable level and wickets in hand, Hawera was able to explode at the finish – McGrath and Rob Northcote hitting 50 runs in the final five overs including 11 off the final over and a boundary off the last ball of the match to seal the five-wicket win.

McGrath’s knock capped off a good day for the family, with his brother Cody earlier snaring 4/38 with the ball.

Other matches on the weekend saw a hard-fought match at Karo Park where Civil Quarries Inglewood and Nag N’ Noggin NPMU battled to a draw that went to the wire. Marist finished 8 down and 65 runs short of Inglewood’s first innings dig of 188/10.

Stumble Inn Woodleigh got up over NPBHS for a three-wicket win, with Mitchell Proffitt leading the way with 96 as Woodleigh chased down NPBHS’s 216/8 off 60. Riley Staddon had a good game for the First XI, making 47 with the bat and taking 2/25 with the ball.

The final game of the round was rained off after 40 overs in Stratford. The home side had reduced Whitaker Civil FDMC to 77 all out before the heavens opened and prevented any further play.

The red-ball competition now splits into a championship and a plate division, for two-day matches.

The championship Division sides are Hawera, NPOB, Marist and Stratford, while the plate sides are Woodleigh, Inglewood, FDMC and NPBHS.

This weekend’s matches sees NPMU and Old Boys clash at Lynmouth Park, Hawera host Stratford at the TSB Hub, FDMC taking on NPBHS at the College and Woodleigh play Inglewood at Sutherland Park.

Full details including points tables, upcoming fixtures, scorecards and live scoring are available here at Play HQ: