Top teams close after day one

Travis Stewart

The top of the table clash between New Plymouth Marist United (NPMU) and Inglewood in round 5 of premier grade two-day cricket is a tight affair after day one.

Winning the toss and batting first NPMU was going along nicely at 116 for 3 but the introduction of Aaron Taylor to the bowling crease swung the momentum in Inglewood’s favour. Taylor picked up three wickets in the space of half an hour as NPMU lost its last seven wickets for the addition of just 21 runs. It was dismissed for 137 and three runs short of what could be an important batting bonus point. Ryan Watson (40) and Dean Robinson (33) were the top scorers while Taylor finished with 4 for 9 off 8 overs. Matt Simpson picked up the final three wickets, also claiming four for the innings.

In reply, it was slow going for Inglewood. Sam Broadmore and Luke Dravitzki batted for more than two overs each for 24 and 27 respectively. Inglewood lost five wickets for 13 runs to be 89 for 7 before Brent Stevens and Matt Simpson combined to take Inglewood through to stumps at 101 for 7.

With the above game so tight and no batting bonus points scored so far, it has given New Plymouth Old Boys (NPOB) the opportunity to go top of the table after completely dominating Stratford on day one. Winning the toss and batting first, NPOB lost an early wicket with Chris Coombe having Josh Borrell caught behind for a duck. Quinn Mills batted well for 40 before Matt Shaw and Jordan Gard combined for a 135-run partnership to set up NPOB’s mammoth first innings total of 333 for 7 declared. Gard top-scored with an impressive 126, an innings that consisted of seven fours and seven sixes. In reply Finbar Moriarty was out cheaply with Liam Muggeridge joining Denis Mihalijevich at the crease. The pair were going along nicely at 43 for one before things took a turn when Mihalijevich was dismissed for 23 and Muggeridge departed soon after for 22. From then on it was all downhill. Stratford lost its last 9 wickets for 29 runs to be all out for 72. NPOB will look to enforce the follow on and complete an outright victory on day two.

The Hawera versus Woodleigh game is well advanced with Hawera holding the upper hand after day one. Woodleigh started well with Scott Evans and Zac Betteridge restricting Hawera to 23 for 4 early on. A 113-run partnership between Adam Keene (78) and Liam Heibner (71) resurrected the Hawera innings finally posting 207 all out. Evans and Betteridge both finished with four wickets apiece. Woodleigh, which has battled all year to get runs on the board, was once again under pressure early on with only Mitchell Proffit providing any resistance with 39. Woodleigh was bundled out for 89 with Shaun Fowler doing the bulk of the damage with 5 for 14. Asked to follow on, it started much the same with both openers bowled by Adam Keene.  Woodleigh found itself  2 for 2 but got through to stumps at 59 for 3, still 59 runs behind with Mattie Allen not out on 28.

In the battle of the schools, Francis Douglas Memorial College (FDMC) holds the advantage over New Plymouth Boys High School (NPBHS). Batting first FDMC posted 220 with Robson Chapman top-scoring with 76. In reply NPBHS got through to stumps at 121 for 5 with David Graham and Brayden Baker the not out batsmen. Opener  Callum Tito scored 50.