O'Donnell ton puts Takapuna on top

Monday, 17 December 2012

Takapuna were the only side to secure a first innings victory on day one of the fifth round of two-day matches. The Major Championship leaders had little trouble claiming the six points against Parnell, but almost every other game is still in the balance after the opening day.

Hedley Howarth Trophy - Two-Day Major Championship

Round Five - Day One

Parnell v Takapuna - Shore Road

Major Championship leaders Takapuna look well set to extend their advantage after wrapping up first innings points on day one of their contest with second-placed Parnell at Shore Road.

The home side batted first and were in trouble from the off, losing their first three wickets with just 8 on the board, James Fuller once again doing the early damage for the visitors.

Fuller took 11 wickets in Taka's previous match against Grafton United and the Gloucestershire county star added a further four to his tally on Saturday afternoon. Parnell never recovered from their slow start and were eventually bowled out for just 122 with Greg Johnson and Michael Tillett each picking up a pair of wickets.

With plenty of overs still remaining in the day the visitors took the aggressive approach, wrapping up first innings points in convincing fashion. Robbie O'Donnell celebrated his call up to the Auckland Aces Plunket Shield squad with a majestic century, the youngster cracking a six and 21 fours before being dismissed for 125 from just 121 deliveries. And O'Donnell found plenty of support from Elliott Herd (77) as Taka raced to 289 before losing their final wicket in the last over of the day.

While Taka hold a powerful advantage heading into day two, if any side is capable of a reverse from this position it is Parnell. The Shore Road outfit have won their previous two outings in this manner, but a second innings deficit of 167 will be a huge test of their abilities.

Parnell 122 (J Fuller 4/40) plays Takapuna 289 (R O'Donnell 125, E Herd 77, M Ravlic 5/93) after day one.

The Fox Suburbs New Lynn v Cornwall - Ken Maunder Park

There was a war of attrition on day one of the Suburbs New Lynn and Cornwall encounter at Ken Maunder Park with the home side batting out the entire day to post a total of 226.

Cornwall's Matt Quinn celebrated his call up to the Auckland Aces Plunket Shield squad with an outstanding display with the ball. The New Zealand U19 representative conceded just 33 runs from the 24 overs he bowled, although his tremendous accuracy went unrewarded in wicket-taking terms as the home batsmen showed great discipline.

Michael Barry led the way at the top of the innings scoring 67, his fourth half century of the season, while Peter Gough (50) and Sean Solia (47) made some useful lower order contributions.

Behind Quinn's superb effort Cornwall skipper Sam Anderson bagged a five wicket haul while Teja Nidamanuru had the excellent figures of 3/24 from 16 overs before Rob Newton ran out Josh Presland off the final ball of the day.

Next week Cornwall will begin their pursuit of 227 for first innings points with both sides needing a victory to keep pace with leaders Takapuna heading into the Christmas break.

The Fox Suburbs New Lynn 226 (M Barry 67, P Gough 50, S Solia 47, S Anderson 5/40, T Nidamanuru 3/24) plays Cornwall after day one.

New World Victoria Park Grafton United v Howick Pakuranga - Victoria Park

The match between Grafton United and Howick Pakuranga is on a knife edge after the bowlers dominated proceedings on an opening day which ended with the hosts requiring a further 30 runs to secure first innings points, but just three wickers left in the locker.

New ball pairing Jono Roberts and Guy Coleman inflicted the principal damage when Howick batted first, Roberts claiming four victims at a cost of just 48 runs from his 19 overs to lift him to 26 wickets for the season. Coleman was also in superb form snaring 3/28 from 13.3 overs as the visitors were bowled out for 150 in 56.3 overs.

When the home side began their reply they suffered the same fate as most sides that have faced Donovan Grobbelaar this season. The Howick seamer once again ripped through an opposition top order, claiming the first four wickets to fall. Grobbelaar now has an astonishing 37 wickets in less than half a season only, 14 fewer than the 51 Darren Eckford claimed last term as Premier cricket's leading wicket taker.

Grafton skipper Dusan Hakaraia did his best to combat the visiting attack with a quickfire 36 from 35 balls, but with wickets falling at regular intervals the hosts had to abandon plans of chasing down the target on the first day and finished on 120/7 with Parth Patel and Michael Bing at the crease.

Howick Pakuranga 150 (R Lahood 34, J Roberts 4/48, G Coleman 3/28) plays New World Victoria Park Grafton United 120/7 (D Hakaraia 36, D Grobbelaar 4/33) after day one.

Papatoetoe v ILG East Coast Bays - Papatoetoe Recreation Ground

ILG East Coast Bays are in a strong position after day one of their contest with Papatoetoe at the Recreation Ground despite an incredible innings from the home side's number 10 bat David Pimm.

Papatoetoe were in deep trouble at 133/8 when Pimm walked to the crease in defiant mood. He took the game to the Bays attack in a scintillating 52-ball innings in which he struck 12 fours and 2 sixes before finishing unbeaten on 76. Earlier Bharat Popli (70) had helped the home side set a good foundation, but the middle order struggled to cope with the leg spin of Bays skipper Bradley Schmulian (6/47) before Pimm's dramatic late heroics  eventually lifted his side to a competitive 223.

There were still 25 overs left in the day but any hopes the home side had of making significant inroads into the Bays line-up were dashed by Donovan Deeble. The new ball bowler made the most of his opportunity to open the innings, racing to 67 from 70 balls and striking 10 fours in the process and remaining unbeaten at the close of play.

Papatoetoe's bowlers had one success when Kurt McDonald removed Simon Middleton, but with Bays ending the day on 94/1 they are firmly in the driver's seat heading into day two.

Papatoetoe 223 (D Pimm 76no, L Popli 70, B Schmulian 6/47) plays ILG East Coast Bays 94/1 (D Deeble 67no) after day one.

Tom Hellaby Trophy - Two-Day Minor Championship

Round Five - Day Two

Ellerslie v HRV Birkenhead City - Michaels Ave

HRV Birkenhead City have their work cut out for them if they are to remain unbeaten in the two-day competition after Ellerslie amassed  314 on day one at Michaels Ave.

After being given a solid platform by the openers, Matt Drake and Kieran Pearce combined for a 125-run third wicket partnership before Drake was dismissed for 77. Sheldon Kearns joined Pearce at the crease and maintained the impressive momentum with a 72-run fourth wicket partnership before Pearce fell just 12 runs short of a century.

With the score on 253/3, and with almost 30 overs left in the day, the home side were looking at a substantial total until the brakes were suddenly applied, Ellerslie losing five wickets for just three runs as Paul Muchall (4/51) and Tazz Satti (3/38) found form.

Despite the mini-collapse Ellerslie remained in a strong position, and with Matt Newman adding a valuable unbeaten 37 the home side took their final total up to a commanding 314 in 90 overs.

The visitors had nine overs to face before the close of play and Jacob Curtling and Rob McConnochie managed to survive the opening onslaught, taking their side through to 30 without loss when stumps were drawn.

Ellerslie 314 (K Pearce 88, M Drake 77, M Newman 37no, P Muchall 4/51, T Satti 3/38) plays HRV Birkenhead City 30/0 after day one.

Eden Roskill v North Shore - Keith Hay Park

North Shore will begin day two needing only 51 more runs for a first innings victory over Eden Roskill at Keith Hay Park.

The home side were indebted to their lower order when they batted first. At 60/6 it looked as though Roskill were going to finish with a total under 100, but a spirited showing from Brett Randell (45no) and Raja Sandhu (31) helped the hosts up to a respectable 170 before they were eventually bowled out in the 64th over.

Skipper Josh Tasman-Jones led the Shore attack, picking up figures of 4/23 in a miserly 11.3 over stint, and then he saw his openers, Mark Tulloch (33) and Mac Chapman (32), get the response off to a positive start as they rattled up 60 in just 13 overs. Tasman-Jones (21) then maintained the momentum before Michael Olsen (13no) and John Penberthy (11no) ensured their side would finish in a strong position, taking the score to 119/3 at stumps.

With a full day's play ahead of them Shore will not only be eyeing a first innings success, but a third consecutive outright as well.

Eden Roskill 170 (B Randell 45no, R Sandhu 31, J Tasman-Jones 4/23) plays North Shore 119/3 (M Tulloch 33, M Chapman 32) after day one.

Barfoot & Thompson Waitakere City v Auckland University - Te Atatu Park

The contest between Barfoot & Thompson Waitakere City and Auckland University at Te Atatu Park is in the balance at the end of day one. The visitors posted a good looking 294 to put themselves in the ascendancy, but the home side's openers then rested back some of the initiative before a crucial late strike raised Uni spirits once more.

The Varsity innings was led by skipper Marc Ellison who struck 63 at the top of the order on his return from a knee injury, Chris Dineen then continued his superb form with a well made 36 before brother Jonty put the foot on the accelerator as he smashed three huge sixes in his innings of 75 made from just 67 balls. Scott Curtis (4/83) and Praneel Hira (3/58) produced the best figures in a chastened home attack.

Waitakere`s response was led by returning Aces batsman Anaru Kitchen who was playing his first game of club cricket this season. He looked to be in superb touch, striking 5 boundaries, but when part time leg spinner Barrington Rowland trapped him leg before for 33 the visitors were elated.

Hayden Pye-Redfearn (18no) and Aaron Jeavons (18no) will resume the Waitakere innings on day two with their side needing a further 219 runs for victory with nine wickets in hand.

Auckland University 294 (J Dineen 75, M Ellison 63, V Jeet 37no, C Dineen 36, S Curtis 4/83, P Hira 3/58) plays Barfoot & Thompson Waitakere City 76/1 (A Kitchen 33) after day one.

Midweek T20 fixtures:

Barfoot & Thompson Waitakere City v Kumeu - Te Atatu Park
The Fox Suburbs New Lynn v Eden Roskill -  Ken Maunder Park
Howick Pakuranga v Ellerslie - Lloyd Elsmore Park
Papatoetoe v Auckland University - Papatoetoe Recreation Ground
North Shore v Hibiscus Coast - Vauxhall Road
ILG East Coast Bays v Takapuna - Freyberg Park
Cornwall v HRV Birkenhead City - Cornwall Park
Parnell v New World Victoria Park Grafton United - Shore Road