Southland's club cricketers had to contend with scorching sun and soft outfields on the opening day of the club competition on Saturday.
The top game was between the defending champion Marist and Old Boys, at Queens Park.
Old Boys made a bad start, with three of its top four batsmen scoring ducks. Southland representative Amarpreet Singh scored 41 runs but carnage surrounded him as his team was dismissed for 104.
All six of the Marist bowlers had success. The most successful was fast bowler James Ng, who took three wickets.
Marist then made hard work of its run chase, losing seven wickets before earning victory in the 27th over. Shaun Fitzgibbon (36) and Connor Rodden (25) scored the bulk of the runs for Marist.
Southland Boys' High School had a win on its home pitch against Metropolitan.
Boys' High batted first and made 161, bowled out in the 47th over. Opener Brayden Thomas made a patient 38 from 122 balls, while Benji Culhane carried on his good early season form with
44 from 50 balls. Aaron Hart also chipped in with 31
off 28 deliveries.
Hart then took three of the first four Metro wickets.
Metro continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and was bowled out for 126 in the 43rd over.
Last season's beaten finalist, Appleby had a hard-fought 79-run win on its home ground against Waikoikoi. Appleby batted first and posted 196 for nine off 50 overs.
Kieran Lloyd (35), Calum Johnston (36) and Ankit Pursharthy (55) all started their seasons well.
Waikoikoi lost early wickets but recovered to be 106 for
four. The visiting side then lost its last six wickets for 11 runs, and was all out for 117 in 39 overs.
Connor Hart took three cheap wickets as did Connor Handley, on debut.
In the PGG Wrightson division one competition, defending champion Central Western had a 45-run win in Tapanui against Blue Mountain. Captain Quinn Stewart (27) and Garth Paul (20) helped CW through to 110 for nine off 40 overs.
In reply, only Cherry Chandi (21) showed any application for Blue Mountain as the local team was out for just 65.
It was also slow in Te Anau, when Albion batted first and made 97 for eight from its 40 overs.
The locals reeled in the total in the 25th over. Grant Taylor and Geoff Macfarlane each scored 32.
Old Boys B beat Wyndale by 14 runs at Menzies College.
In division two, Marist B chased down Central Western B's 215 with four balls and two wickets to spare. Ashleigh Harrison scored 80 runs for CW and took three wickets.
Appleby's third XI had a draw in Riversdale.
Appleby restricted the locals to 135 but then lost early wickets in reply. Dilpreet Brar held up one end as Appleby chipped away at the total.
When Brar (27) was dismissed 10 runs were still required and only two wickets remaining. Despite some patient batting from the tail-enders the game was tied.
Waikoikoi B defaulted to Southland Boys High School second XI.
- John Langford
