Bernet Bowls The Boys to Bonus Point Win

The hotly anticipated match of the round and arguably the match of the competition took place on Saturday as our Premier side gave up hosting rights, to allow the game to be played on grass and headed to Western Park to take on arch rivals and competition favourites, New Plymouth Old Boys.

Upon arriving to the ground, the brains trust inspected what looked to be a reasonable grass wicket, especially for this time of year. However, the intel that was received following last weekend’s game was that the wicket was two paced with variable bounce at both ends.

Our NPMUCC lads knew that deciding what to do at the toss would be crucial and they also knew that it would be their choice given Cunningham’s sensational tossing ability. Sure enough, Cunningham nailed the call and elected to bat first which seemed to sit well with both teams as Old Boys later said they would have bowled first, apparently preferring to know what they need as opposed to trying to work out what sort of target to set.

The game plan was always to have a slow and steady approach, with a preference to retain wickets in hand, rather than forcing the run rate too early and who better to have out in the middle to lead the execution of that game plan than the Hawke Cup cricketer of the season last season, Dean Robinson, and although he got off the mark with a ginormous six over long off (free hit) where the ball seemingly made its way down the Morley St hill and into the foreshore, Robinson showed immense discipline, concentration and grit throughout his entire 104 ball stay at the crease.

After losing Ryan Fleming early on, Kurt Leuthart joined Robinson out in the middle and the pair proceeded with the cautious approach adding 61 together before a bit of a meltdown immediately after the drinks interval saw Kurt Leuthart run out by a direct hit from backward point in what was a nice bit of fielding from Ben Mitchell. Leuthart’s innings finishing on 33 off 73 balls and the score at that point 73 for 2 after 26.

A few quick wickets fell over the course of the next 15 overs one of which included Robinson who looked to cash in on his patient knock and when attempting to lift the tempo in the 43rd over he smashed a cut shot straight to point where Josh Borrell was waiting to send Robinson packing for an invaluable 42.

As they have done all season, Josh Barrett and Jacob Richards were tasked with the job of some late runs which yet again they delivered on. The only two batsmen of the whole game who managed to score at a run a ball or better and both clearing the ropes a couple of times each. Barrett was caught at long on for 23 and Richards was not out on 33 off 25 balls at the end of the innings. Team Score 166 which they boys knew if they bowled well, would be defendable.

Arguably the competitions best seam bowler, Josh Barrett then took the new nut and as per usual was clinically economical giving the batters no opportunities to score. At the other end saw the return of last season’s leading wicket taker and pending Taranaki representative, Daniel Bernet who was quickly in to his work taking all of four balls before he got the first break through.

Bernet picked up a wicket in each of his first three overs embarrassing the Old Boys top three, which brought together the key pairing for Old Boys in captain Mattie Thomas and their Irish pro, Ross Bryans.

Bernet and Barrett applied consistent pressure and it wasn’t long before Barrett cleaned up the Old Boys captain with an absolute rip-snorter of a delivery clean bowling Thomas for 4.

At the other end the pressure continued to mount on the Irishman who hadn’t been placed under any pressure so far in this competition and suffice to say he didn’t cope well with it as he really struggled to rotate the strike. Eventually Bernet diddly did him with a pure piece of spin bowling, luring forward in to a defensive prod and finding the outside edge that stand in wicket keeper Ryan Fleming gobbled up to send him on his way. Bernet finished his 10 overs on the trot with 4 wickets for 10 runs including 5 maidens and further pushes his case to be included in the Taranaki Chapple Cup team.

From then on, the Old Boys hopes rested on stalwart Jamie Watkins and Tem Hodson. Watkins was typically gritty but tried to take it to Michael Blanks with a synonymous cover drive, but unfortunately for him, found the longest man in cricket, Robinson, who took a sensational one-handed grab to send Watkins back to the Pavilion and Old Boys and with him chances of a victaury. Old Boys all out for 100 meaning our NPMUCC side picked up the bonus point and now sit outright first on the table. (Robinson 42, Leuthart 33, Richards 33, Barrett 23, Bryans 4-24 off 10, Pillay 2-19 off 10, Bernet 4-10 off 10, Blanks 2-30 off 10, Watson 2-27 off 6.3, Hodson 20).

In the other games, our premier side was most interested in the Woodleigh vs Inglewood game and found themselves cheering for Woodleigh here as a win to Woodleigh would mean our NPMUCC side would sit outright first on the table and the Woodleigh men did not disappoint us.

Batting first Woodleigh got off to a great start putting on 68 for the first wicket courtesy of Jesse Vertongen (41) and Shaun Sullivan (38). Following their departure out went Phillip Barraclough who looked to take the game away from the Inglewood side scoring a well compiled 74 not out off just 82 balls. Barraclough was supported well by Nick Standen who returned to the side having missed the game last week to score a quick fire 43 off 29 balls and Josh Quinney who came in late to blast 42 not out off 28 balls to see Woodleigh set 279 for Inglewood to chase.

Inglewood’s run chase didn’t start off well losing early wickets and relatively regularly which included last week’s hero Brent Stevens (4), veterans Aaron Zame (3), Jason Dombroski (12) and Matt Simpson (16) all within 25 overs.

Inglewood’s hopes rested with returning run scoring machine Bailey Wisnewski who opened the innings but when he was dismissed for a well-made 68 off 105 balls in the 34th over Inglewood’s hope perished and although there was a late flurry from Marty Keegan (44 off 33) it wasn’t enough. Inglewood all out in the 43rd over for 203. Cam Black doing a good job again ending with 3-50 off his 10 and Mitch Proffit continues to take wickets finishing up with 3 for 48. A win to Woodleigh by 75 runs and a bonus point victory for them also. (Barraclough 74*, Standen 43, Quinney 42*, Vertongen 41, Sullivan 38, A Taylor 3-44, Wisnewski 68, Keegan 44, Proffit 3-48, Black 3-50).

The game between Stratford and FDMC was an absolute nail biter with the school side registering their first win of the season by just 1 run.

The college side batting first posted a respectable total of 220 for 9 with contributions from the whole batting order which looks to be a lot stronger with the return of former school student Quin Sorensen who is on loan from NPMUCC as he made a handy run-a-ball 39. However, the batting effort was led by skipper Matt Allen who was again amongst the runs soring a well-made 63 not out and combined well with Ambrose Moriarty (47 off 50 balls) as they put on 86 for the 4th wicket.

In reply Stratford got off to the worst possible start losing Paul Lightoller for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings courtesy of young tearaway George Kerr.

Stratford then had some very useful contributions from Finbar Moriarty (42) and Neil Harper (72) which got them close and in the last over they required 14 to win but fell agonisingly close scoring 12 runs to lose by 1. Kale Jordan doing most of the damage for the college grabbing 3 for 32 while George Kerr chipped in with 2-39 off his 9 overs. (Allen 63, Moriarty 47, Sorensen 39, Norgate 20, Elder 20, Taylor 2-26, Harper 72, Moriarty 42, Jordan 3-32, Kerr 2-39).

In the last game of the round Hawera hosted NPBHS and the school side having won the toss and electing to bat first may have been questioning their decision to do so at the lunch break having been bowled out in 39 overs for a paltry 132 with just Ryan Gilmour managing to score over 20 with his 34. The chief destroyer for Hawera being Rob Northcott with his educated left arm tweakers, finishing his spell with 4-29 off 10.

In reply though the school team had Hawera on the ropes immediately with Tyler Slingsby and Zach Betteridge applying at lot of pressure at the top of the innings.

Slingsby was the first one to break through clean bowling Chris Stephens in the 5th over. Hawera really didn’t get going in their innings with just Jack Fowler managing to score over 20 (23 off 71 balls) which is a credit to the disciplined bowling effort from the school team.

Both Oliver Burbidge and Zach Betteridge picked up two wickets a piece, but the hero on the day was Tyler Slingsby who continues his good form with the ball bowling his team to victory with a 5 wicket bag ending with impressive figures of 5 for 25 off his 10 overs and with it, bringing up his team’s first win of the competition and keep their hopes of making the semi-finals alive as they now sit 5th equal with FDMC. (Gilmour 34, Northcott 4-29, Kuklinski 2-24, Keene 2-4, Slingsby 5-25, Betteridge 2-25, Burbidge 2-24, Fowler 23)

Points table of three rounds:

1st NPMUCC – 14 points

2nd = Woodleigh, Inglewood & NPOB – 10 Points

5th = NPBHS & FDMC – 4 Points

7th = Stratford & Hawera – 2 Points