Cricket: Texans progress to NZ club qualifiers

Opening batsman Matt Edmondson's century provided the platform for NTOB to go a step closer to the NZ club champs' CD qualifiers playoffs in Palmerston North. PHOTO/FILE

The Texans were always going to be overwhelming favourites to beat Greytown CC in Napier to progress to the clubs' nationals qualifiers but, for coach Dale Smidt, it wasn't about that yesterday.

"I said to the boys it's not about who we are playing but how well we are playing ourselves," said Smidt after Big Barrel Napier Old Boys' Technical walloped Greytown CC by 231 runs at Nelson Park, Napier.

"It was quite difficult bowling conditions with strong breezes that were hard on the players," he said of the gusty nor'westerlies that didn't help the 14 wides, including one that went for five.

Smidt said they batted on the back of opener Matt Edmondson's century (115 runs).

"I think Matty just showed his class and Stevie [Smidt] whacked it at the end," he said.
Jayden Lennox got the kudos for bowling with a five-wicket bag (5-42), while Indika Senarathne backed up with 3 off 1.4 overs, including a maiden.

But Smidt said some stellar catches wrapped it up with Josh Paerau snaffling two in the slips cordon and, again, Senarathne not wanting to be left out.

"Indika took one of the best outfield catches I've ever seen, I think. It was up in the air, over his head and the wind was blowing it away further and further so he dived full length horizontal and grabbed it just on top of the ground for Lennox's fifth wicket."

NTOB are off to the CD playoffs in Palmerston North on Waitangi Weekend, February 4-6, but they weren't aware of who the other CD qualifiers were yesterday with inclement weather around the cricketing region creating a havoc.