Cricket: Short 'n' sweet or is it

Short games are like double-edged swords in cricket.

Two games in premier men's one-day club cricket on Saturday go a long way to prove that.

Havelock North CC skipper Todd Astill sent a text about 3pm, politely clarifying they had lost by eight wickets to Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay at Ongonga Domain and it was best to talk to the hosts as he was lost for words.

Point taken. As it turned out, the villagers were skittled for 109 in 31 overs before Scott Schaw led CHB to eclipse the total with 114-2 in the 22nd over.

At Nelson Park, Napier, Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) crushed The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist (NOBM) by 10 wickets.

Having skittled NOBM for 79, NTOB overhauled the target with 83 in just 7.4 overs.

"It's probably the shortest game I've ever had to play in my life," NTOB captain George Diack said, emphasising he didn't intend to show the opposition disrespect.

"Marist won't make the semifinals but can still cause an upset. We just didn't (want) to drop to their level," Diack said of the competition leaders who play their remaining games against Havelock and Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall having already qualified for the play-offs.

Therein lies the double edge - batting first could have stretched the game but gained NTOB valuable batting time on the crease and gifted a predominantly young NOBM bowling experience.

In Waipukurau, only Graeme Tryon and Stu McVeigh (28 each) resisted CHB's spin attack of Toby Richardson (6-43 off 9) and Angus Schaw (2-12 off 8) while Driaan Lubbe took 2-36 off 6 overs.

Opener Ben Smith's 63 was the cornerstone of CHB's reply. For NOBM, Jack Ward scored 22 runs while NTOB's Ruan Markram took 6-19 and Stevie Smidt 2-7.

At Cornwall Park, the hosts won the toss and amassed 233-9 in 50 overs against Taradale CC with No 3 Michael Taiaroa top scoring with 69 and No 5 Jayden Wiggins unbeaten on 55.

Dale skipper James de Terte took 2-36. In reply, Taradale could only muster 134 in 34 overs before running out of wickets. Jamie Cotter top scored with 25 while Wiggins claimed 5-24 from 10 overs, including three maidens.

Cornwall boosted their playoff hopes with a bonus point victory.