Bowlers shine as scores stay down

Bowlers dominated at all three venues as low scoring typified the start of round two in the Car Company Nelson two-day cricket competition.

Home team Stoke-Nayland were on the back foot early against WTTU at the Marsden Rec on Saturday before finally capitulating for just 139 runs on a good batting surface. WTTU were no better off at stumps, however, ending the day precariously placed at 110 for 8 in reply.

Wakatu's bowlers rolled Waimea College for just 94 runs on a flat Saxton Oval pitch, their batsmen partially bucking the trend of low scores by reaching 166 for 7 at stumps for an overall lead of 72 runs.

There were extenuating circumstances at Lower Ngawhatu, where sprinklers accidentally activated overnight, causing a damp wicket. Wanderers bowler Joe O'Connor exploited the conditions superbly to capture six first-innings wickets and a further three in the second against Motueka as their contest threatens an early finish next weekend.

Stoke-Nayland's batsmen couldn't handle the swing and movement of a lively WTTU bowling attack as their top six batsmen amassed just 22 runs between them, Mark Douglas and Ryan Edwards both out for ducks, as they slumped despairingly to 43 for 7.

They eventually found their saviour in No7 batsman Peter Younghusband, who battled defiantly through 47 overs to compile an unbeaten 55 runs, also partnering Darius Skeaping in an 85-run stand for the eighth wicket before Skeaping was trapped lbw by Sam Baxendine for 38.


Baxendine finished with impressive figures of 3-13 off 11.5 overs, with Brendan Hodgson taking 3-21 off eight.

Younghusband's 149-ball innings included seven fours and a good measure of patience.

Stoke-Nayland's bowlers promptly followed suit as WTTU were quickly in trouble at 52 for 5, only opener Mason Thelin (22) providing any resistance at the top of the order.

A 39-run sixth-wicket stand between Greg Chitty (13) and Hodgson (26) partially realigned the innings before WTTU struck further trouble at 94 for 8 as Baxendine and Simon Carr negotiated the final few overs at 110 for 8.

Skeaping, Nathan Todd and Younghusband each captured two wickets, legspinner Younghusband completing an excellent individual day's work with figures of 2-16 off 16 overs.

Wakatu v Waimea College Wakatu's bowlers also shared the wickets at Saxton Oval after skipper Shane Laurence had initiated the early breakthroughs to set the tone for an ineffective Waimea College batting display.

No3 batsman Tom Cross easily top scored for the innings with 29 runs. Otherwise, Wakatu's bowlers produced some impressive economy rates, highlighted by Greg Du Feu's effort of 2-5 off 13 overs and offspinner Luke Toynbee's 1-19 off 18.

Laurence finished the day with 3-22 off 14, while Simon McGowan offered excellent support with 2-22 off 12.

Openers Mason Robinson (24) and Nick Fagan (19) compiled a handy 40-run partnership in Wakatu's reply before an alarming middle-order collapse also saw College's bowlers assume some dominance at 81 for 5. However, late offerings by Matt Macquet (24 not out), Bud Jackson (31) and Toynbee (39) had helped Wakatu regain the initiative by stumps at 166 for 7.

Cross cemented a fine all-round effort with two wickets, while left arm spinner Dan Wightman took 3-35 as College's leading wicket-taker.

Wanderers v Motueka Both Wanderers and Motueka are still in with a chance of victory at Lower Ngawhatu with their game already well advanced.

O'Connor's impressive six-wicket haul, finishing with 6-31 off 14 overs, was the key ingredient in Wanderers dismissing Motueka for just 77 runs as Bryan Krammer and Carlot Lazaro shared Motueka's top score with 13 runs each. Hayden Ingham chimed in with eight economical overs, the right-arm seamer conceding just eight runs for his two wickets.

Wanderers' innings was also quickly in disarray in reply as all five Motueka bowlers shared the spoils, Sam McHugh the leading wicket-taker with 4-9 off eight overs. Offspinner BJ Barnett and left arm seamer Andy Beatson picked up two wickets each. Kyle Paki Paki (14) and Ollie O'Connor (11) were the only Wanderers batsmen to reach double figures as the innings eventually folded for 85, albeit a lead of eight runs.

Motueka's second innings was also on the brink of collapse at 112 for 8 at stumps, representing an overall lead of 104 runs, which in the overall context could prove defendable when play resumes next Saturday.

Opener Kurt Pahl (25), Barnett (28) and Lazaro (25) were Motueka's main providers as O'Connor (3-31) and Ingham (2-20) once again got amongst the wickets.