Ideal conditions greeted Southland club cricketers in their round eight one-day matches on Saturday.
With the province’s best players on representative duties, Waikoikoi, Metropolitan and Appleby all had wins in the Premier League.
Metropolitan beat Old Boys by 62 runs on Queens Park’s second field.
Metro was in trouble at five wickets down for 55 runs but Caleb Hope (37) and Daniel Mills (36) helped get it through to 183 before being bowled out in the 46th over.
In reply, Ryan Acland (36*) top-scored for Old Boys but he lacked support, the 27 extras being next best. Old Boys was rolled for 121. Metro’s best bowlers were Daniel George with four for 40 and Hope three for 20.
Waikoikoi had a 97-run win over the home side at Southland Boys’ High School. Waikoikoi scored 289 for six and then bowled the school side out for 192. Waikoikoi batsmen Finn Hurley (77) and Hamish Cooke put on a 102-run partnership for the third wicket. Cooke and Glenn Paterson (64) then put on another 50 before Cooke was dismissed for 68. Boys’ High showed some resolve with the bat through Brayden Thomas (29), Jed Mockford (38) and Alec Mathieson (29).
At Miller St, an unbeaten 50 from Ankit Pursharthy helped Appleby chase down 105 against Marist with three wickets in hand.
In the division one 40-over competition, defending champion Central Western had a 63-run win against Te Anau in Winton. Central had first turn at bat and its innings was teetering at 99 for six before team leaders Grant Kean (49*) and Gareth Paul (25*) steadied the ship through to 181. Geoff MacFarlane took three of the six wickets for the visiting side.
Grant Taylor got Te Anau’s reply off to a flyer when he smacked the first ball over the bowler’s head into the paddock. Taylor made a quickfire 31, and McFarlane 21. Central paceman Connor Wells took two wickets for eight runs from his six overs.
Wyndale had a seven-wicket win at home against Appleby B. Appleby made 224 for eight with six batsmen making handy contributions; Steven White top-scored with 37.
Wyndale cruised to victory with hefty contributions from Devon McLeod (65), Jeremy McLeod (78*) and Aaron Kimura (54*).
Old Boys B beat host Albion by seven wickets. Albion was bowled out for 148, slow bowler Binny Shermer taking four wickets for just eight runs from his 50 deliveries.
Old Boys opening batsman Charanjeet Singh was unbeaten on 50 when his team took victory in the 35th over.
Blue Mountain had the bye.
- John Langford
