Cricket: Thunderstorm great leveller for prems

Cornwall coach Lincoln Doull is all for releasing premier men club players to push for higher honours. PHOTO/FILE

Premier men's club cricket had made allowances for the Chapple Cup stealing the thunder at the weekend but the weather gods had other ideas.

Whatever the reservations to the two-hour thunder and lightning display, three teams who didn't collect winning points in the opening round gleefully profited from the thunderstorm in the second round of the Property Brokers 110-over HBCA competition on Saturday.

Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall, Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North and United Travel Taradale were the grinners.

The match at Taradale Park against Big Barrel Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) was abandoned after the hosts were two wickets down for 14 runs after they skittled the visitors for 152 runs in 35.3 overs.

"It was a bit of shame because we bowled pretty well," said Taradale player Luke Kenworthy but happy to share the spoils and two bonus points for bowling out NTOB.

The wicket was under covers but the outfield was waterlogged amid thunder, lightning and hail.

"The football pitch filled up quickly so there wasn't much chance of getting on," Kenworthy said.

The other two games picked up where they left off at Cornwall Park, Hastings, with first-innings wins as teams were without several key players due to the Chapple Cup one-day tourney at Nelson Park, Napier.

The hosts beat a depleted Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay while the villagers had the measure of The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist (NOBM).

"We're all for it," said Cornwall coach Lincoln Doull who was without the services of Bayley Wiggins (Whanganui), Jacob Smith (HB) and Liam Dudding (HB).

Doull said it was their first game on the park wickets and the players rated it a better start than the corresponding time in the previous season.

"It was good bowling from both sides and it was 65/35 in favour of the bowlers all day long."

He said it was good for Cornwall to get across for a victory considering the players had toiled for it.

His Havelock North counterpart, Derek Stirling, echoed his sentiments: "It was a huge relief."

Stirling said the villagers were pleased to start their campaign in round two with a lion's share of points.

Auckland A rep allrounder Brad Schumulian, took a five-wicket bag with his legspin and
scored 61 runs at first drop while Sam Prescott chimed in with five scalps from two innings.

"Brad's come here to make CD and we're bloody pleased to have him," Stirling said.