Appleby narrowly beat Marist in a low-scoring match in the Southland one-day competition on Saturday.
Appleby won the toss and elected to bowl on their home ground.
The experienced Shaun Fitzgibbon (39) and Luke Reynolds (27) were the only Marist batters to look comfortable as the team struggled before being all out in the 38th over for 109 runs.
Appleby’s Prashant Singh took three wickets for 16 runs off his eight overs.
Captain Sam Downing was also tight with his bowling, finishing with three for 20 off seven overs.
Appleby also struggled with the bat, Aaron Hart the only one of the top six batters to reach double figures.
Marist opening bowlers Sithum Niluminda-Bandara and Dylan Hawkes took three wickets each.
Aaron Hart (44) hit three sixes and two fours during his innings, while No8 batter Prashant Singh (16no) and No10 Hunter Cairns got the team over the line with two wickets and seven overs to spare.
Waikoikoi beat Southland Boys’ High School by six wickets.
The school side won the toss and elected to bat on their home pitch.
Openers Duncan Tait and Captain Zach Harrington put on a partnership of 58 before Tait (24) was dismissed.
Harrington (49) held his ground while wickets fell around him before being the sixth man out with the total on 99.
Ben Cocker (22) and Charlie Hopcroft added an extra 37 runs, before Charlie (31no) and Henry Hopcroft (11no) took the team to 167 runs for eight from their 40 overs.
Waikoikoi allrounder Welby Reed took three wickets for 33 runs but he managed only eight runs when opening the batting.
Todd Thayer (37) and Jared McKenzie (26) got the Koi through to 96 for the loss of three wickets. Kurt Thompson (24) and an unbeaten 49 runs from Ryan McFaul took the visitors to victory with six wickets in hand.
It was Old Boys’ turn to have the bye.
After five rounds, Appleby is the unbeaten team heading into their 125-year celebrations this weekend. Former club player Jeff Wilson will be the guest speaker on Friday night.
— John Langford
