Cricket: Texans slip on last hurdle at CD playoffs

Matt Edmondson top-scored in the final with his bat but NTOB lost in the CD qualifying tourney for the National Club Championship. PHOTO/FILE

It was touch and go but Napier Technical Old Boys stumbled at the last hurdle at the Central Districts qualifying tournament of the National Club Championship in Palmerston North yesterday.

The Big Barrel-sponsored team lost by four wickets to Power Farming United CC side from Manawatu at Fitzherbert Park.

The Texans, who had the Central Districts pair of Jesse Ryder and Kieran Noema-Barnett, won the toss and posted 171 although they were 20 balls shy of using up their allotted 50 overs when they were skittled.

Opening batsman Matt Edmondson remained in the purple patch from his Furlong Cup-qualifying form with 79 runs but no one else hung around with him for long and that will make his Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative coach Colin Schaw happy before the Hawke Cup challenge against Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui this weekend.

Of the top-order batsmen, Noema-Barnett added 11 and Ryder and Liam Rukuwai each added 19.

In reply, the host club champions eclipsed the target with 173-6 and had 18 balls to spare to end the Hawke's Bay flag-flyers' hopes of making the playoffs as the CD representatives in Auckland later this summer.

Their No 4 batsman, Hayden Hill, was 76 not out and found support from No 6 and fellow right-hander Sonpreet Singh with 39 runs.

Indika Senarathne took 2-43 as NTOB's top wicket taker.

"It was a very hard wicket to bat on and they had a slow bowling attack," said veteran George Diack last night before they headed home.

"Another 30 runs and we would have won," said Diack.

The Bay champions had another close affair on Saturday, edging out Property Brokers Whanganui United CC by three wickets with 17 balls to spare.

"It was a pretty sticky wicket and we had a delayed start," said Diack after NTOB chased down the Whanganui's 207 runs.

Noema-Barnett and Ryder didn't play in that game.