Semifinalists found in T20

Thursday, 26 January 2012

For Suburbs and North Shore it was a simple case of winning their final Twenty20 game to join Cornwall in the semi-finals but for three teams in the Blue Section it was all hands to the calculator after they finished equal on points.

In the end Howick Pakuranga had done enough to claim the fourth and final spot on net-run rate over Auckland University and Papatoetoe.

Auckland University had the simple equation in the Blue section: win and they were through to the semi-final. But as soon as they lost to Papatoetoe and Howick dealt to Ellerslie it was time to reach for the calculators. University never had enough runs on the board after batting first and posting only 115/6 in their 20 overs. Laxman Popli hit an unbeaten 51 to ensure that it was a stroll to victory for Papatoetoe and draw them level with University on points.

Howick Pakuranga meanwhile were taking care of business against Ellerslie as they posted an imposing 191/9 and then restricted the home side to 166/9. Michael Davies top scored for Howick with 48, whilst youngster Matt Selby hit a half century in Ellerslie's unsuccessful reply.

North Shore made no contest of their battle with East Coast Bays as a phenomenal spell from Tim Duncraft demolished Bays. Duncraft picked up the remarkable figures of 6/8 in his spell at the bowling crease and in the process put paid to any chance Bays had of winning the match and progressing to a semifinal. In the end they finished on 49/9, and a long way from their victory target of 136.

Suburbs win over Parnell was not quite so convincing but it was comfortable nonetheless as they restricted the home side to 108/8 in their reply to Suburbs 138/4, Max Montgomery continuing his good form to anchor the innings with 63. Skipper Will Brittain led the Parnell effort with 48, but it wasn't enough to pressure Suburbs total.

In the other games Takapuna powered past Birkenhead with a mammoth total of 213/7, Daniel ter Braak the standout in a batting effort that had plenty of contributors. That was quite a few too many for Birkenhead who fell 74 runs short, Glen Johnson backing up runs with the bat by grabbing four wickets.

Cornwall, who already had their finals spot secured got home in a high scoring game at Cornwall Park. Brad Chemaly (72*) and Jack Shantry (53), the two players who top the Club Cricketer of the Year standings, combined to lead Cornwall to 162/2 and despite another fifty from Dusan Hakaraia, who was backing up from a hundred earlier in the day for Auckland A, they fell 12 runs short.

In the final game Grafton picked up their second win of the Twenty20 competition as they downed Eden Roskill by 10 runs. Guy Coleman once again led the run charge with a round 50 and then Grant Thorpe picked up three cheap wickets to help restrict Roskill to 154/8.

Semifinals - Wednesday, 1 February
Suburbs New Lynn v North Shore
Howick Pakuranga v Cornwall

Men's Premier Grade - Twenty20 Championship

Round 6 - 25 Jan 2012

North Shore v  ILG East Coast Bays - Vauxhall Road 1a                       
North Shore 135/6 (S Lipshaw 3-26) defeated East Coast Bays 49/9 (T Duncraft 6-8) by 86 runs.

Takapuna v HRV Birkenhead City - Onewa Domain 1a                
Takapuna 213/7 (D Ter Braak 63, J Sole 45, L Nash 34, G Johnson 30) defeated Birkenhead City 139/8 (D Crook 39, J Loates 31, G Johnson 4-31) by 74 runs.

Ellerslie v HRV Howick Pakuranga - Michaels Ave Res 2a                       
Howick Pakuranga 191/9 (M Davies 48, P Cairns 34, W Johnson 31, T Deas 3-43) defeated Ellerslie 166/9 (M Selby 57, M Newman 40*, C Larkov 3-15) by 25 runs.

Papatoetoe v Auckland University - Papatoetoe Rec Grd 1                     
Auckland University 115/6 (V Zaveri 33*, C Brookland 3-15) lost to Papatoetoe 118/2 (L Popli 51*, L Shaw 31) by eight wickets.

Parnell v Suburbs New Lynn - Shore Road 1a                
Suburbs New Lynn 138/4 (M Montgomery 63) defeated Parnell 108/8 (W Brittan 48, M Barry 3-18) by 30 runs.

Cornwall v Waitakere City - Cornwall Park 1a                  
Cornwall 162/2 (B Chemaly 72*, J Shantry 53) defeated Waitakere City 150/9 (D Hakaraia 54*, S Anderson 3-20, P Thomas 3-20) by 12 runs.

Eden Roskill v Grafton United - Keith Hay Park 1a                     
Grafton United 164/8 (G Coleman 50, A Lane 40, B Chand 3-30, N Aujla 3-31) defeated 154/8 (S Lala 42, G Thorpe 3-16) by 10 runs.

Points Table after round 6:

White Section
North Shore                  13.5
East Coast Bays            10.5
Takapuna                     7.5
Birkenhead City            4.5

Blue Section
Auckland University       10.5
Howick Pakuranga         10.5
Papatoetoe                     10.5
Ellerslie                           4.5

Red Section
Suburbs New Lynn         13.5
Waitakere City                10.5
Grafton United                7.5
 
Black Section
Cornwall                        13.5
Parnell                           4.5
Eden Roskill                   4.5