Inglewood have qualified top of the Revital Fertilisers Premier cricket 2 day leaderboard after an emphatic outright win over Stratford.
Stratford batted first and made 174 with Liam Muggeridge top scoring with 70 not out, Luke Dravtizki was the pick of the Inglewood bowlers with 4 for 68. In reply Inglewood would score 1st innings points for the loss of 6 wickets, the final two wickets would then put on 61 runs giving Inglewood a sizeable 77 run lead as they were dismissed for 251. Aaron Taylor and Matt Simpson scoring half centuries. With little to play for Stratford put up little resistance in the 2nd innigs as they were bundled out for 104 leaving Inglewood 28 for victory, which they achieved for the loss of one wicket.
NPOB and Hawera had their own battles, on one hand NPOB were looking to secure top spot and Hawera on the other hand were looking to score enough points to secure a semi final spot.
Hawera were asked to bat first but lost wickets regularly to fall agonislingly 3 runs short of a batting bonus point as they were dismissed for 157. NPOB would get through to 50 for 1 but soon found themselves 88 for 7, Ross Bryans and Quinn Mills would combine for a 71 run partnership to secure 1st innings points and 35 run lead. With NPMU scoring maximum points beating FDMC in a day Hawera would have to come from behind and score an outright victory of face the disappointment of missing out on the finals.
Ngoni Mupamba (68) and Jack Fowler (46) would set up Hawera’s 2nd innings allowing Rob Northcott to score a quick fire 44 off 24 balls, Hawera would declare at 227 for 7 leaving NPOB 193 off 38 overs. At the time Inglewood looked like they were going to score an outright meaning NPOB had to chase, at 110 for 2 NPOB were commanding favourites, however Rob Northcott had other ideas, with the track starting to take turn Northcott would turn the game around as he picked up 6 for 34 and NPOB loosing their last 8 wickets for 52 runs.
NPBHS secured 3rd spot with a decisive victory over Woodleigh, NPBHS have Coach Mike Rubick (41) and number 11 Chris Logan (28) to thank for their 1st innings total of 146, they were the only two batsman to make 20. Woodleigh would soon realise what a tough wicket it was to bat on as the NPBHS opening pair of Zac Betteridge and Ben Frewin would pick up 5 wickets between them in their first spell to leave Woodleigh reeling at 19 for 5. It didn’t get any better form there as Woodleigh were dismissed for 77. Second time around NPBHS batsman made light work of the Woodleigh attack as a number of them got starts with Jordan Gard top scoring with 70. NPBHS would declare at 242 for 7 leaving Woodleigh 300+ for victory. A total that would prove beyond them as NPBHS spinners Oli Burbidge and Liam Carr would take 7 wickets as Woodleigh ended their season being dismissed for 151.
In the final match the FDMC season hit an all time low as they were dismissed for just 13 inside 11 overs. Ryan Watson 7 for 5 and Josh Barrett 3 for 6 were the only bowlers required. To keep their season alive NPMU would need to score maximum batting points, they would easily achieve this with opener Daniel Bernet making 81 and Watson would demoralise the college bowlers as he pounded 102 off just 57 balls. NPMU declaring on 297 for 7. FDMC would then hit rock bottom as they were dismissed for 96 and beaten outright by an innings and 188 runs inside one day.
The following semi finals will be played March 23rd and 24th with Inglewood hosting Hawera and NPOB welcoming NPBHS.