Cricket: Viljoen century proves difference

Even the presence of a Black Cap in the line up could not help Albion avoid a fourth defeat in five games.

Green Island 215 beat Albion 85 by 130 runs

Black Caps off spinner Nathan McCullum, who last week announced he will retire from international cricket at the end of the summer, played his part with the ball.

He took three for 30 to help dismiss Green Island for 215 at Sunnyvale.

But the defending champion was rolled for a paltry 85 in reply and continues to languish towards the bottom of the standings.

Mind you, Green Island would have been in trouble had it not been for Namibia international Christi Viljoen. He played pretty much a lone hand, cracking 113 from 123 balls to give the Swamp Rats attack some latitude.

Viljoen, who is waiting on a working visa, has his sights set on playing for Otago this summer and impressed during a twenty20 trial match at Brooklands Park on Friday evening. He clubbed 41 from 29 deliveries and was in good touch on Saturday as well, hitting eight fours and six sixes.

Opener Gregor Croudis made 30 at the top but extras were the next biggest contributor with Albion conceding 37 extras, 32 of which were wides.

No 10 Josh Cuttance top scored with 22 for Albion during its calamitous reply. Russell Ritchie claimed the key wicket of McCullum and finished with three for 20, while that man Viljoen took two for 15 to complete a very good match for the all rounder.

Taieri 130 for nine lost to Kaikorai 133 for none by 10 wickets

Kaikorai breezed to a 10 wicket win against Taieri at Brooklands Park in blustery conditions on Saturday.

The home team is at other end of the competition standings after five rounds but Taieri would have wanted to be more competitive.

Having been asked to bat, it made a slow but steady start.

Toby Batchelor (27) and Jack Driscoll (13) put on 39 for the first wicket but Batchelor's departure robbed the innings of more momentum.

The only other partnership of note was an unbroken effort for the last wicket by the Hunter brothers - William Hunter (17no) and Jack Hunter (14no).

The pair put on 32 to help Taieri reach a modest 130 for nine.

Kaikorai did not have to do much with the ball other than niggle away on a good line and length.

Otago top order batsman Ryan Duffy took three for 17 with his medium pacers, and Josh Finnie and Geordie Scott both picked up two for 21 from 10 overs.

The chase lasted just 20.1 overs with openers Matt Hunter (72 from 57) and Dan Sharples (53 from 65) sealing the win.

Jack Hunter bowler well at the top but Matt Hunter was in terrific form and swatted four sixes and five fours.

He hit down the ground particularly well and was not afraid to swivel into a pull shot when the bowlers dropped short.

He had a stint in the United Kingdom during the New Zealand winter and is batting with more confidence this season.

NEV 134 lost to Caris Dunedin 135 for three by seven wickets

Carisbrook Dunedin returned to the winner's circle with a comprehensive seven wicket win against North East Valley at Tonga Park.

Both captains probably would have bowled but Brad Rodden won the toss and sent Valley in.

Openers Tom Griffin (22) and Fred Humphries (34) got the visitors off to a reasonable start but once that partnership was broken, the innings rather petered out.

Valley's key batsmen Adam Miles (6) and Derek de Boorder (5) both missed out. Andrew Sim chipped in with 21 in the middle to help his side post a modest 134.

The wickets were shared around but Chris Ware bowled tightly at the top of the innings, taking one for 15 from 8.1 overs, and Craig Sneeden was a handful with two for 34.

Otago top order batsman Michael Bracewell took his time getting in for the Valley but once he got established, it was always going to be a short chase. He complied an undefeated innings of 80 and had good support from Taine Bayly, who notched 30 not out.

Veteran seamer Jamie Murley nabbed all three Carisbrook Dunedin wickets to fall, finishing with three for 24 from seven overs.

 

 

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