Cricket: Napier Technical Old Boys make short work of Hawke's Bay 50-over final

A jubilant Napier Technical side now heads for the national club championships in Auckland next month.

It was meant to be a 50-over final.

But only 49.4 overs were played all day in the Property Brokers Premier Men's 50 over final.

And it was all that was needed to declare Innovate Electrical Napier Technical Old Boys the 2018/19 MJF Shrimpton Memorial Cup champions.

Reynard Health Supplies Havelock North had won the toss on a morning that threatened rain, and batted first at Nelson Park, as the weather cleared.

Opener Pete Marffy (43) did his best to hold things together but lost early batting partners and went in the 17th over, caught by Jesse Ryder off Todd Watson.

Only William Clark (26) offered any further resistance against a Napier Tech attack that varied its bowling load across seven players.

Clark's departure sparked a collapse that saw Havelock lose five wickets in four overs for five runs, and depart the Nelson Park pitch all out for 123 after 36.4 overs.

All rounder Bronson Meehan snared a miserly 3-18 off nine overs for Napier Tech, with Stevie Smidt chipping in with 3-24 off seven and Liam Rukuwai 2-20.

As they had done in last week's semifinal against Cornwall, Napier Tech came charging out of the gate, with Christian Leopard continuing his rapid fire form with 46 off 19 balls, to follow his 99 from 53 balls last Saturday.

Matt Edmondson made 47 off 30, and Meehan (11) and Ryder (12) finished things off in the 13 overs.

The 50-0ver final was a rematch of the February 24 twenty20 premier final, which Napier Tech also won.

The Texans are now bound for the national club championship at Cornwall CC in Auckland in April, after qualifying as the Central Districts premier club champions in early February.

Meanwhile, in the Division 2 40-over final also played at Nelson Park, Bayleys Taradale batted first against Napier Pirates and were all out for 140 in the 38th over.

Opener Andrew McNair put together a steady 57 off 89 balls but struggled to find batters prepared to stick around and build partnerships.

Justin Ross was the pick of the Napier Pirates bowlers with 3 for nine off seven overs.

However, the Pirates would have been disappointed that they were responsible for the Taradale team's second highest score - 25 extras, including 15 wides.

There was early hope for Taradale, Rob Leak snaring Willie Wright for a duck in the first over.

But fellow Pirates opener Nick Mogford compiled 40 at close to a run a ball, and Christian Lay (31), Emmet Lynch (23) and Cameron Jamieson (18) all kept the momentum going with good strike rates.

Pirates ability to score at a run-a-ball saw them home in the 30th over, eight wickets down.

Craig Selby stood out for Taradale with 3 for 27 off eight overs.