Cricket: Napier Technical Old Boys bounce back with don't-argue win over Parnell at nationals

NTOB spinner Jayden Lennox, 24, says his five-wicket bag against Parnell today at the club nationals in Auckland today is the best of six he's taken in his career. Photo/supplied

If you weren't convinced of the value of spinners in Black Caps coach Gary Stead's equation for the impending ICC World Cup in England then you need not look far for reaffirmation.

Left-arm orthodox bowler Jayden Lennox spun some magic to claim a five-wicket bag to help his Innovative Electrical Napier Technical Old Boys beat Auckland campaigners Parnell by four wickets in round four of the NZCT National Club Championship today.

"It'll definitely be up at the top for me knowing that we lost yesterday so we needed to win today and to do it so convincingly is pretty nice," said Lennox after claiming 5-11 in 5.3 overs, including two maidens after Parnell skipper Brad Rodden won the toss and immediately padded on the No1 wicket of the Cornwall Cricket Club grounds in Auckland.

The defending champions had lost by 27 runs to St Albans, the Canterbury representative premier men's club, yesterday on the No3 ground where the boundaries are smaller.

But just as the Texans had done in their previous two victories over Greerton, of Tauranga (Northern Districts qualifiers), and Eastern Suburbs , of Wellington, they skittled Parnell for 92 runs in just 30.3 overs today.

Lennox described the park No 1 wicket, which they had played on on Tuesday, as "a little bit two-paced" one.

"With the seamers at the top some of them [balls] were flying through and some weren't so it was good we took wickets regularly," said the 24-year-old irrigation manager who is in his seventh season with the premier men's club side and came in as the eighth bowler in the second-change shift with veteran slow bowler Bronson Meehan.

Meehan claimed 2-11 and Central Districts Stags allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett took 2-12 from five overs each although the latter registered two maidens. First-change paceman Todd Watson took 1-10 from his five overs, including a maiden, in an impressive tourney to date.

Only the top three Parnell batsmen got into double figures, the openers scoring 24 runs each while Aces batsman Ben Horne managed 19 as the rest of the line-up struggled.

Player/coach Jesse Ryder top scored with 30 runs for Napier Technical Old Boys in just his second game at the NZCT National Club Championship in Auckland today. Photo/Photosport

In reply, the Texans wobbled before player/coach Jesse Ryder, at No 6, top scored with 30 runs and No 4 Meehan backed up with 28 to stop the rot.

Watson, nine runs not out, and Morten Freer, yet to score, saw the victors home with 6-96 from 21.1 overs.

Lennox said the boundary was bigger and the Parnell batsmen were struggling to find their timing.

"It was good to get back to our winning ways," he said. "I think yesterday we needed a kick up the bum to level us out so that we aren't just going to think we'll just walk through this tournament."

He said the aggressive manner in which the Texans chased a total meant oppositions would get a sniff of taking early scalps but the batsmen would remain confident.

With Suburbs beating Greerton by three wickets and St Albans slaying Green Island (Otago) by four wickets today, NTOB will play the latter tomorrow with the insurance of a superior run rate in trying to make the 1st v 2nd playoffs on Sunday against undefeated St Albans.

"Green Island will have to beat us by a huge margin to go through so regardless of what happens today it'll be a good game for us tomorrow," he said.

Green Island have two defeats and NTOB one so another loss tomorrow for the latter will not be a biggie for the defending champions provided it doesn't turn into a riot.