North Shore bowler Aidan O'Connor winds up as Jesse Singh backs up. PHOTO/Warren Buckland
Daylight saving is supposed to kick in early tomorrow morning but you could have been forgiven for thinking it started yesterday if cricket is anything to go by in Hawke's Bay.
The opening round of the three-day Kilbirnie Sports-sponsored HBCA annual tourney reaffirmed the belief that the Twenty20 format has no respect for representatives or reputation of teams.
Defending champions Hutt Cricket Academy went down by 67 runs to Ruahine Motors Ford Central Hawke's Bay at Forest Gate Domain in Ongaonga.
"It was a great start for the young guns of the club," veteran James Mackie said after 2014-15 Central Districts skipper Kruger van Wyk scored 55 runs from 35 balls and fellow Stag Ben Smith added 25 (13) to 162-8 in 20 overs before skittling Hutt for 95 in 16.5 overs.
"Kruger and Ben were top draw so the platform was laid," Mackie said.
Matthew Pollard scored 29 (13) for Hutt who have several first-class players while Nick Blundell took 3-18 and Charlie Robson took 2-24 but spinner Angus Schaw was outstanding with a two-wicket maiden.
"Angus didn't get a chance so when he got in he did the job so tomorrow he'll be asking for more overs," he said.
Sharpies Driving Range Taradale CC succumbed by seven wickets to Wellington Collegians at Nelson Park, Napier.
"We had a bit of a shocker," Dale player Luke Kenworthy lamented after they were skittled for 70 in 17.1 overs.
No 6 Seth Rance was 25no but "the others never really got on top and failed to build partnerships", he said.
Kieran Noema-Barnett arrived from the Netherlands yesterday and will play for Dale today.
So will the Stoyanoff brothers, Ben and Jeremy, who didn't play yesterday.
Tobias Wevers and Niranjan Naguleswaran got three wickets each.
Collegians cantered to victory for 74-3 in 14.1 overs.
Doug Bracewell was the most frugal but got no wickets.
Havelock North CC beat Te Puke CC (Tauranga) by 41 runs.
"They got to a flier but Jeremy Ketel hauled them back," said Jared Priest after the villagers' bowler got 4-11, including a maiden.
No 3 Graeme Tryon was the batting here (35 from 32 balls) after arriving from England on Thursday while CD rep Ben Wheeler added 18.
No 3 Jayden Wiggins emulated Tryon's feat with 52no with CD opening batsman Dean Robinson adding 35 as Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC pipped Central CC (Rotorua) by six runs.
Charlie Crasborn took three wickets for Cornwall.
Ben Blackett took 4-11 but felt it was great experience for their young despite the loss.
"If we are to win prizemoney it's a no brainer that we have to win both games tomorrow," Blackett said.
North Shore CC lived up to their declaration of the "best team" for now after thumping The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist by seven wickets.
NOBM No 3 Mathew Sinclair laid the foundation with 73 (62) but no one else was keen to hang around.
"It's a concern for us because we're doing it all the time," Sinclair said, feeling they were 30 runs shy with 130-7.
"We must not rely on me or anyone else for that matter to make the runs all the time," said the Bar senior men's rep coach.
North Shore's Mac Chapman scored 40 from as many balls while fellow opener Jared Sun added 36 (26) and No 3 Matt Selby was 17no in overhauling the total with 133-3 with seven balls to spare.
"We dropped Skippy [Sinclair] twice," North Shore coach Ken Olsen said but put it down to learning for his youngsters.
However, Olsen was delighted with his partnership of 70 as a season opener.
Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) had a scare against senior graders Marewa CC before prevailing by 15 runs.
No 4 Greg Hay 46 (30) and No 6 Stevie Smidt 40 (29) in amassing 166-9.
Marewa captain Casey Rangi took 3-19 and also chimed in with 55 not out (34 balls) at No 5 in the underdogs' run chase with No Doug Wakenshaw 39 runs (31) backing him up in reaching 151-7.
Indika Senarathne took 2-19 from 4 overs.
In other games, Karori CC beat Kapiti Old Boys by 134 runs with the winners claiming the highest innings total of the day (221-6).
No 3 Alecz Day 99 (51) and opener Simon Baker 64 (61) laid the foundation.
Onslow CC got home by the skin of their teeth against New Plymouth Old Boys with two balls to spare. Brent Arnel took 2-23 and Matt McEwan 2-18.