Nag N’ Noggin New Plymouth & Marist United Cricket Club are the 2024/25 Expert Turf Premier two-day champions and winners of all three premier titles this season

A massive congratulations to Nag N’ Noggin New Plymouth & Marist United Cricket Club – our 2024/25 Expert Turf Premier two-day champions and winners of all three premier titles this season.
The golden run of weather may have come to an end and robbed the three-day final of the finish it deserved yesterday, but Marist had already done enough to win beat Merit RV New Plymouth Old Boys’ Cricket Club on first innings and take the shield back to Lynmouth Park for the winter.
When the rain arrived just before tea on day three Marist was 31/2, chasing 192 for the outright win over their arch-rivals after a topsy turvy two and half days of cricket.
Marist won the toss and sent NPOB out to bat. A half century to Josh Borrell (68) and a solid 40 to Ben Mitchell were the key innings as Old Boys worked their way through to what looked a below par 193 all out. Keegan Boon was impressive with the ball, picking up 4/58.
But Old Boys were by no means out of the contest. Taranaki seamer Jordan Gard proceeded to whip through the Marist top order, taking 5/64 and Marist was teetering at 5/59 when Michael Blanks strode to the crease early on day two. Blanks’ innings was by no means chanceless but it was gritty and tough and by the time he departed he had 157 runs to his name, and his side was well in control on 307 all out, with the all in important first innings win in the bag. Reeve Nelley (55) was another to impress, joining Blanks for an impressive 173 run ninth-wicket stand.
Knowing that nothing less than an outright victory in around four sessions would do Old Boys came out for their second dig with their backs against the wall, trailing by 114. But the side will never lie down in a tight spot and it was the turn of Old Boys’ Josh Borrell to take the game by the scruff of the neck. His 141 of 156 balls was a sublime innings, keeping the score ticking over at a clip that would allow Old Boys to set a decent target, and leave enough time to put some pressure back onto the Maris batters. Borrell found good support from Rupert Young (40), Mattie Thomas (37) and Jordan Gard (43), and eventually declared on 305/8, a lead of 191. Nelley capped a good game with three wickets, to go with two wickets.
After such a valiant effort, a rained off final session was a cruel way for the game to end. It would have been an absorbing final two and a half hours at the park and an appropriate way to cap an incredible season.
Marist also beat NPOB in both the 50-over and T20 championships earlier in the year – a feat which they last achieved in 2021/22.
Well done to both teams and clubs on a great game of cricket and fantastic seasons – we’ll see you all back next year.

Full scorecard available here at Play HQ