Defending Bing Harris Shield champions Taieri began the season in ominous form, while Green Island and Albion were also victorious, and there were three centuries.
Taieri 214 beat North East Valley 120 by 94 runs
Ruben Clinton showed few signs of rust as he launched Taieri to a comfortable win at Brooklands.
Clinton smashed 126 off just 87 balls to lay the platform for the home side’s decent tally of 214.
He bashed 14 fours and seven sixes in the sort of attacking display that will have him back in contention for Volts selection this summer.
Clinton and Jack Kelly (39 off 55 balls) rattled on 122 for the first wicket, and it appeared a massive total was in store.
Once Kelly fell, however, the middle order did not contribute much aside from Avinash Shastri’s brisk 21.
Jeremy Smith (three for 54) dismissed two Taieri batters for ducks before ending Clinton’s fine innings, while Gus Holt cleaned up the tail to finish with five for 21 off 6.2 overs.
North East Valley’s chase did not start well, with three batters falling for single figures.
Hunter Kindley arrested the slide with a fine 53 off 71 balls (five fours, one six) but no other Valley batter could get going, and they were rolled for 120 in the 39th over.
Zac Cumming led the Taieri attack with three for 24 off 10 overs, getting handy support from Kyle Hastie (two for 18) and Toby Hart (two for 26).
Albion 247/8 beat CDK 246/5 by two wickets
Rising opener Hugo Bogue continued to show his appetite for runs as he guided Albion to an entertaining victory at Tonga Park.
Bogue cracked 101 off just 79 balls to power the Eagles to a two-wicket win as they successfully chased a target of 247 in the 45th over.
The youngster has had plenty of success already at junior and club levels, and his progress is being keenly monitored.
Bogue smacked six fours and eight sixes to ignite Albion’s chase.
He and Joshua Olliver (46) put on 150 for the third wicket to break the back of the challenge.
Ollie Ritchie (20 off 19 balls) and Patrick Arnold (22 off 21) then chipped in handy runs to get to the target.
Former Auckland under-17 captain Harry Sixton led the CDK bowlers with three for 37, and both Jack Wright and Thomas O’Connor took two wickets.
Earlier, another exciting talent had shone for CDK.
Tom Jones, the 19-year-old grandson of former New Zealand cricketer Jeremy Coney, smashed an unbeaten 119 in the Hounds’ 246 for five off 50 overs.
Jones, who has relocated south after representing Auckland in the New Zealand under-19 squad, faced 125 balls and hit four fours and five sixes.
He and Mason Gain (49) put on 106 for the third wicket, while Henry Scott added an unbeaten 29 to get CDK to a competitive total.
Sithum Niluminda Bandara was the pick of the Albion bowlers with three for 51.
Green Island 104/2 beat University-Grange 103 by eight wickets
There were no dashing centuries at Memorial Park, but there was a convincing win for Green Island.
Six University-Grange batters got into double figures, but none could push on to a big score.
Angus Henry’s 22 was the top effort as the Spartans were bowled out for 103 in the 29th over.
Both Mayank Malhotra (three for nine) and Hamish Wilson (three for 30) profited for Green Island.
The Swamp Rats made no race of the chase, hauling down the target inside 18 overs.
Elliot Santner (43 off 31) and Jacob Cumming (23 off 20) blazed away, and Brad Kneebone was unbeaten on 31 when victory was achieved.
