NZCT NATIONAL CLUB CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016
Day Three
Overcast conditions having replaced the previous clear blue skies, there was a pertinent reminder overhead that weather was on the way. Rain could yet play its part in the last rounds, so today was “moving day” for all teams as they looked to shore up a healthy position on the points table.
Manukau City (Northern Districts) v Eastern Suburbs (Wellington)
Manukau City 167 (Jono Hickey 80, Sandeep Patel 47; Peter Connell 6-36) lost to Eastern Suburbs 173/4 (Fraser Colson 53, Jeremy Dean 39; Sandeep Patel 3-64) by six wickets
View scorecard
Wellington’s Easts put on another dominant display as they inflicted a third successive loss on the luckless Manukau City — now without their stellar weapon in Ish Sodhi for a couple of games.
The Northern Districts club champions had looked like they maybe building to a strong total, the multitalented Jono Hickey starting on a strong partnership with Sandeep Patel.
He bats. He keeps. He play rugby for Auckland. Jono Hickey
However, once Peter Connell was able to dismiss Hickey, things went south rapidly for Manukau.
Peter Connell
Hickey had made 80 and Patel 47, and after their departure no other player managed a score over six.
Manukau found itself rolled just in the 26th over, Connell helping himself to a fine 6-36 off just 6.1 overs.
In response, Easts got the required runs at a canter.
Opener Alecz Day was the first to go, but by then he had already helped with a 49-run opening stand with Jeremy Dean (39 off 48).
Firebird Fraser Colson once again showed his talents as he notched 53 from just 43 balls, peppered with seven boundaries and three sixes on the smallest ground at Cornwall.
It was a strong score from Colson regardless, backing up his hundred from the day before.
Chamika Gajanayaka with 22 and Jimad Khan with 18 then made sure Easts would cruise to the target in quick time, just two down.
The Manukau troops sloped away licking their wounds after the early finish — the other games still in full swing, just to rub it in, as they trundled away to the carpark.
POINTS AFTER DAY 3
Eastern Suburbs – 9
St Albans – 9
Napier Old Boys Tech – 6
Suburbs New Lynn – 3
Manukau City – 0
Kaikorai – 0
