Inglewood have gone top of the Revital Fertilisers Premier Two Day cricket competition after a demolition job of Francis Douglas Memorial College.
Declaring over night at 312 for 5 with a lead of 207 the Inglewood bowlers wasted no time in dismissing the FDMC side for a paltry 29; the game all over before lunch with not one FDMC batsman making double figures in a terrible effort.
Woodleigh made New Plymouth Old Boys work harder on day two but eventually succumbed and were beaten outright by 8 wickets. Facing a 1st innings deficit of 175 the Woodleigh batsman finally found some form after weeks of low scores. Jesse Vertongen (66) and Phil Barraclough (59) both made half centuries as Woodleigh posted 246 all out. Ross Byrans the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 46. This left NPOB 72 for victory and opener Ben Mitchell got stuck into the Woodleigh attack guiding his team to victory with 44 not out off 42 balls. The win lifts NPOB to 2nd on the standings.
Going into the round Hawera United saw themselves on top of the table but were dealty a reality check by New Plymouth Marist United. Being dismissed 144 runs behind on 1st innings last week the HUCC top order once again faltered as they found themselves 17 for 5, Adam Keene (38) and Liam Heibner (44), the later batting at number 10 put some respectability back into the score as they were able to go past NPMU’s 1st innings score, albeit by 12 runs. Taranaki seamer Josh Barrett picked up 6 for 57 as the main destroyer of the HUCC innings. With 13 runs required the NPMU openers of Sean Mosquera and Dean Robinson succesffuly scored the winning runs.
In the final game of the round New Plymouth Boys High School turned round a 1st innings deficit to win outright, second time they have achieved the feat this season. 47 runs behind on 1st innings NPBHS found themselves 5 down with a lead of just 8 runs. Jack Parker (46) would combine with Reece Trumper (70) for an 84 run partnership and then Trumper and player coach Mike Rubick would combine for 78 runs to give NPBHS a lead of 173 when they were bowled out for 220.
Grant Commerford picking up 4 for 62 to give him match figures of 10 for 100.
Stratford set off in search of victory and were cruising at 90 for 2 with Liam Muggeridge and Finbar Moriarty looking comfortable. These two had put on 50 together before Oli Burbidge would have Muggeridge caught for 22 and Rubick would pick up Moriarty for 36, from there the Stratford batsman struggled and were eventually dismissed for 128, losing their last 8 wickets for 38 runs. Liam Carr on debut for the 1st XI picked up 4 for 19 with Burbidge also picking up 4 wickets.
Leaderboard:
Inglewood 48, NPOB 45, HUCC 36, NPMU 33, NPBHS 33, Stratford 30, Woodleigh 20, FDMC 14
This weeks matches:
Stratford v Woodleigh
Hawera v FDMC
NPBHS v NPMU
Inglewood v NPOB will be played February 16/17 as NPOB are contesting the CD Club Champs in Palmerston North. NPOB will face Napier Tech on Saturday in the semi final.