lost to Green Island 103 for eight
The bowlers hogged all the fun at Sunnyvale on Saturday.
Taieri was rolled for 102 and then almost defended the meagre target, thanks to some tricky batting conditions.
Dion Lobb, who is closing in on 400 games for Green Island, teamed up with with former Otago quick Blair Soper to make short work of Taieri’s batting line up.
The pair grabbed three wickets apiece, while all-rounder Tom Beaton (two for 19) and Mark Joyce (two for 10) claimed the remaining wickets between them.
Regan Flaws mounted a counterattack from No. 8 with 46 from 29 balls. He deposited five sixes and cracked two fours to help Taieri reach triple figures.
The team had slumped to 48 for six, and Flaws’ innings gave it hope.
He picked up a couple of wickets as well to complete a good day. And Jack Hunter nabbed three for 25 to keep the pressure on Green Island.
Beaton top-scored with 25 and Gregor Croudis’ knock of 16 at the top was valuable in the context of the game.
But it was left to Lobb (nine not out) and No. 10 Jamie MacDonald (14 not out) to make sure of a good start to the declaration campaign, with Green Island limping to victory with 3.1 overs remaining and two wickets in hand.
beat University-Grange 97
Travis Muller led North East Valley to a win in its opening game of the declaration campaign with a four-wicket bag and a half-century.
The former South African under-19 representative top-scored with 68.
His patient knock helped North East Valley post 155 against University-Grange at Tonga Park. He struck one six and nine fours during his 101-ball stay at the crease.
He had good support from Louis Holt, who added 27 from 41 deliveries.
Muller played a first-class game for Wellington last season, but has shifted south with the hope of playing for Otago.
The 25-year-old has 120 first-class wickets, and he enhanced his reputation with four for 24 to help dismiss University-Grange for just 97.
Charlie Holt also took three from 18 to help secure the win.
• The scheduled game between Kaikorai and Albion has been deferred until January 20. The clubs rescheduled the match so some of their players could attend the one-day final between Otago and Wellington at the University of Otago Oval on Saturday.
