Day five of the NZCT National Club Championships saw plenty of runs, two centuries scored in the same game as teams looked to up the ante with the bat, net run rate coming into the calculations ahead of tomorrow’s final.
Eastern Suburbs v Old Boys Collegians
Eastern Suburbs kept its unbeaten record with a 32-run victory over Old Boys Collegians on Cornwall number one today.
Old Boys won the toss and inserted their opposition, Eastern Suburbs sticking to their winning formula of steady starts before accelerating late in the innings.
Jamie Gibson was the pick of the Wellington batsmen, batting at number five he controlled the innings scoring 69 including four sixes.
Easts posted a middling total of 234, Old Boys needing to chase the runs down in 43 overs or less for a chance at qualifying for the final.
Keeper batsman Tom Taylor again showed his ability to hit a big ball at the top for Old Boys, Taylor thumping 81 off just 39 balls to get the innings off to a flyer.
However, when he departed with the score on 97 the rate slowed somewhat as the Eastern bowlers started to fight back.
Jamie Gibson backed up his efforts with the bat and was impressive claiming the second five wicket bag of the tournament his figures of 5-29 from nine overs swinging the game back in Eastern’s favour.
Eventually the tense chase got too big on the OBC boys, falling 32 runs short of the target in the 40th over.
Scorecard
United v Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui registered their first win of the tournament with a commanding five wicket win over United today on Cornwall number two.
United won the toss and elected to bat first, opener Mason Hughes the batsman to get going with 65 at the top.
The rest of the batting card was strangled by some tight Mount bowling, United unable to build partnerships, losing wickets consistently.
All of the Mount bowlers contributed to their best performance of the tournament, Nick Smith the pick of them with 3/27 from his ten overs.
United celebrates a wicket for young spinner Felix Murray
Coming out to bat and Pete Drysdale continued his superb tournament with the blade, scoring an unbeaten 92 as he guided his team to victory in the 25th over.
Pete Drysdale sends it over the rope
Scorecard
Albion v Takapuna
Albion and Takapuna played out a doozy on Cornwall number three, Takapuna claiming a 69-run win but Albion doing enough with the bat to qualify for the top final.
Takapuna blazed away at the top to amass a massive 359 from their 50 overs, Max O’Dowd top scoring with a superb 103 off 82 balls.
O’Dowd looked at home out in the middle striking 15 fours and five sixes in the knock, ably assisted by some brilliant ball striking from Henrik van Vuuren (88) and Dan James (69).
Takapuna's Matthew Jones swings hard
Coming out to bat and Albion were in early trouble, reduced to 22/4 after six overs, off-spinner Elliott Herd causing several of the Albion top order problems.
Elliott Herd won his short battle against Sam Wells
However, Albion captain Jack Harper (51) managed to negotiate his way through the early pressure and along with Jamie Glenn (32) and then Mike Snedden (40) started to get the chase back on track.
Albion's Jack Harper
Having already won their first two fixtures, it became a game within a game, Albion needing to surpass 237 to ensure their run-rate was good enough to qualify for the final.
Takapuna celebrate as Elliott Herd nabs a wicket
After injuring his finger bowling, Teja Nidamanuru was forced to come in at number ten, his side still with work to do on their run-rate. Nidamanuru was nothing short of sensational with the blade, scoring a blistering century off just 50 balls in under an hour.
He hit an incredible 11 sixes in the knock, more remarkable was the fact that he deposited the final two balls of the innings over the rope to reach the milestone, including one that flew over 'the benches' on the far bank, one of the bigger hits you'll see at Cornwall Park.
Teja Nidamanuru's Albion teammates clap him off the field
The display of power hitting ensured Albion’s run rate improved enough to qualify for tomorrow’s final despite Takapuna taking out a 69-run win.
Scorecard
Tomorrow’s playoffs
1v2 Final Eastern Suburbs v Albion
3v4 Final Takapuna v Mount Maunganui
5v6 Final Old Boys Collegians v United
