Cricket: Four in a row for leader Kaikorai

Taieri opener Jarryd Taig hits in the air and is caught during his side's match against Albion at...
Taieri opener Jarryd Taig hits in the air and is caught during his side's match against Albion at Culling Park on Saturday. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
And one more makes four. Kaikorai cemented its position at the top of the standings with a fourth consecutive win.

Its latest victory was a comfortable six-wicket win against Carisbrook-Dunedin and came about thanks to some power hitting from the competition's form all-rounder, Geordie Scott, at Tonga Park.

Scott walloped an undefeated 64 from just 36 balls to help his side overhaul the Dogs' middling total of 216 with more than 17 overs to spare.

His onslaught included five sixes and six boundaries.

He really was not that particular about where he clouted it next, although he dispatched some mighty blows over cover.

It capped off another successful match for Scott who had earlier taken three for 38.

Arguably, though, Danyn Stewart was the pick of the Kaikorai bowlers.

He bowled a tight first spell and got his reward at the death, taking consecutive wickets and finishing with two for 36.

Carisbrook-Dunedin made a slow but steady start.

Right-hander Nik Swain provided the impetus with an aggressive knock of 62 from 55 deliveries.

He was proactive at the crease and looking very threatening until he top-edged a sweep shot, much to the relief of Kaikorai.

Kaikorai openers Matt Hunter (34) and Dan Sharples (44) got the reply off to a brisk start and their 78-run stand set the platform for Scott to finish off.


 

North East Valley 220 beat Green Island 213 by seven runs.

Green Island was on track for victory right up until the point experienced all-rounder Mark Joyce got out.

Having dismissed North East Valley for a getable 220, the Swamp Rats appeared to be cruising to victory at Bayfied Park.

Opener Gregor Croudis anchored the reply with a patient innings of 83.

Veteran gloveman Scott Simpson chipped in with 21 and Namibia international Christi Viljoen scored 35 from 52 deliveries.

Green Island was well-placed at 169 for three with 13 overs and change to score the remaining runs.

But Joyce (38) chased a short wide delivery and found the edge rather than the middle of the bat.

When Croudis departed five overs later, the pressure went on Green Island's lower order.

North East Valley pace bowler Keegan Harrison snapped up three quick wickets as Green Island slumped to be all out for 213.

Harrison finished with three for 40, while veteran medium-pacer Jamie Murley also nabbed three wickets.

Earlier, Valley made a solid beginning with Tom Griffin (27) and Luke Williamson (51) posting 58 for the first wicket.

Chris Beck injected some spark with 52 from 41 deliveries in the middle.

Valley would probably have been sunk without his counterattack and Green Island, for the most part, bowled well, with four bowlers picking up two wickets apiece.


 

Albion 292 for six beat Taieri 147 by 145 runs.

Albion blitzed Taieri by 145 runs in a bottom-of-the-table clash at Culling Park.

Opener Taylor Cumberland set the tone for the Eagles with a steady 71 to help his side post 292 for six from its 50 overs.

He rotated the strike nicely and combined in a 115-run stand with Jack Harper.

Harper batted aggressively, swatting six sixes - including three in a row - and three boundaries in his innings of 72.

The defending champion lost its first three matches and, in a response to some lacklustre performances, opted to promote regular No10 Josh Cuttance to the top of the order.

Cuttance made 15 from 32 deliveries but his presence higher up the order than better equipped batsmen sent an important message.

Spinner Elliot Love and medium-pacer Josh Tasman-Jones were the only Taieri bowlers to escape the game with a reasonable economy rate intact.

Taieri's reply did not amount to much. Simon Cromarty was brilliantly run out by Cumberland and left-armer Bradley Thomson (three for 24) removed the other three top-order players.

Gus Wood (22), Regan Flaws (25) and Declan Su'a (22) played cameos in an otherwise sorry innings which saw winless Taieri dismissed for 147.

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