The second half of the Southland club 50-over premier league competition began in perfect conditions on Saturday.
Waikoikoi stretched its lead in the competition thanks to a 81-run win over Southland Boys’ High School. Waikoikoi had first turn at bat at the school and amassed 214 for nine.
Liam McFaul top-scored with 58 and Nathan Howden was unbeaten on 38. Hunter Cairns was the best of the school bowlers, with four wickets for 31. The school side struggled through to 133. Bruno Burgess was unbeaten on 35.
Appleby had a narrow win on its home patch, beating Marist with just four balls and four wickets in hand. Marist’s No 4 batsman Jeremy Boyle anchored its innings with 107 runs from 108 balls. Boyle had some support from Alec Mathieson (31) and Trevor Burgess (20). Marist was bowled out for 216 in the 43rd over. Appleby’s Calum Johnstone took four wickets for 31.
Appleby’s opening batsman Jacob Downing scored 68 runs before Boyle bowled him in the 42nd over. Dilpreet Singh (27) and Johnstone (24) made important contributions. It was Jamie Clark who secured the win, with an unbeaten 46 from 42 balls.
In the other round eight match, Metropolitan beat Old Boys. Metro’s total of 273 for seven was too much for its Invercargill neighbour.
The Old Boys B team had an important 10-run win in the division one competition, over Central Western in Winton. The Royal Riders batted first and racked up 175 for nine from their 40 overs.
Captain Charanjeet Singh scored a patient 49 runs, while Jagroop Kahlon (38) and Manoj Kumar (33) also impressed.
Central was on schedule, thanks to some solid partnerships in the middle order and some wayward bowling resulting in 40 extras, but the tail foundered, coming up just short.
- John Langford
