Mount Maunganui finish fourth at NZ champs

IN FORM: Captain Dale Swan, centre, took a rare hat trick against Takapuna on Sunday. PHOTO: File

Mount Maunganui finished a disappointing fourth from six teams in action at the 2017 NZCT National Cricket Club Championships played at Auckland's Cornwall Park.

Sunday's play-off for third and fourth saw Mount Maunganui dismissed for just 167 against Takapuna with Tony Goodin making 44 not out at number nine in the order.

Captain Dale Swann took a remarkable hat trick to set Takapuna back early but 77 from opener Max O'Dowd helped Takapuna home - just - at 170-9.

Form batsman Peter Drysdale secured Mount Maunganui's first win on Saturday at the tournament.

After two consecutive half centuries, Drysdale hit 92 not out as Mount made 159-5 in 24.3 overs to beat Manawatu's United and will face Takapuna in Sunday's 3v4 playoff.

Spinners Nick Smith (3-27) and captain Dale Swan (2-17) did the damage with the ball for Mount Maunganui in bowling out United for 155.

Dunedin's Albion and unbeaten defending champions Eastern Surburbs (Wellington) will play off for the title.

Earlier, Mount Maunganui suffered their second defeat in successive matches on Friday.

An unbeaten century from Otago Volts star Sam Wells helped Dunedin's Albion club set up an imposing tally on the second full day of action against the Mounties.

Wells' unbeaten 116 off just 54 balls (8 x 4, 9 x 6) against Mount Maunganui the second ton of the side's innings after opener and batting partner Taylor Cumberland was the first to chalk three figures.

Together they ensured Albion piled on 306 for five off 45 rain-reduced overs, Taylor having shared an 83-run partnership with recently minted Otago Volt Josh Tasman-Jones (44) before number five Wells put the foot down for the entertaining 161-run fourth wicket stand that was broken with just 16 balls remaining in the first innings, Cumberland finally dismissed on 109.

Mount Maunganui opener Peter Drysdale continued his good form and set off on a run-a-ball 65 in reply, sharing a lively 79-run stand for the second wicket with Ben Musgrave (32) before spinner Teja Nidamanuru put himself on a hat-trick en route to a bag of 5-55 that clinched a whopping 113-run victory.

There was some lusty hitting down the order from Dan Hill (34) and Chris Atkinson (31*) but it was all too late.

Historic Albion and Wellington's Eastern Suburbs now remain the only undefeated sides at the tournament.

Easts were meanwhile up against Auckland champion Takapuna in another 45-over affair next door on the number one ground. Opener Ben Orton led the way with a top score of 59 in the Wellingtonians' 212 for six, Lauchie Johns adding the icing with an unbeaten 48 off just 25 balls.

It proved more than enough as only one of Takapuna's top six broke into double figures in reply - veteran leg-spinning Easts captain Lance Dry snaffling 3-14 as he helped wrap up a 93-run victory, while Peter Connell, Ricky Joseph and Jamie Gibson had all picked up two wickets.

Christchurch's Old Boys Collegians meanwhile bounced back from the loss to Takapuna by brushing aside Palmerston North's United club by five wickets.

United's innings on the smaller number three ground would not go the distance, all out for 169 in just the 39th over, their side crumbling away after the removal of the top order and OBC's Mohit Marya picking up a useful four for 12.

OBC got off to a stuttering start of their own, but strung enough partnerships together to chase down the low target with more than 11 overs to spare, Jeff Case finishing unbeaten on 54.

United and Mount Maunganui will each be looking for their first win when they face each other today while Albion and Easts still need a victory to be assured of a place in Sunday's 1v2 playoff for the national title. Easts up against OBC on the penultimate day and Albion play Takapuna.