Cricket: Last-wicket partnership helps Kamo into Lion Red Cup final

Onerahi Central's Sean Doel successfully appeals for the wicket of Sam Webb during their Lion Red Cup win over Whangarei Boys' High School. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Kamo have booked themselves a date with Whangarei Boys' High School in the Lion Red Cup final.

Kamo picked up a 36-run win over Duracrete Products City after a vital last-wicket partnership between Shane Burton and Heera Singh.

Kamo batted first at Cobham Oval and were in all sorts of trouble at 107 for nine after City picked up wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings.

However, this brought Burton and Singh to the crease and together they pulled Kamo towards a competitive total.

Burton was unbeaten at the end on 35 while Singh added 27 to the 68-run stand, giving City a target of 176 for victory and a place in the final.

City found the deck as tough to bat on as Kamo did, with quick bowlers Ben Hyde (4 for 7) and Nathan Parkes (3 for 28) making consistent inroads.

Stacy Hyndman (52) and Garry Paine (31) tried in vain to get City over the line but they ended up falling short on 139.

Onerahi Central ended WBHS' unbeaten run in the competition with a decisive 92-run victory at Kensington Park.

Onerahi won the toss and elected to bat, which looked a great decision despite the slow scoring nature of the pitch.

Dominic Finn (37) and Henry Cooper combined for a 46-run stand for the second wicket before Finn departed at 66 for two.

Cooper managed to find support from everyone else who batted. The middle order chipped in vital runs to provide good support to the senior partner.

Cooper ended unbeaten on 83 from 117 balls as Onerahi made their way to 218 for 5 from their 50 overs.

Sam Sweeney was the pick of the bowlers with 1 for 33.

WBHS had a disastrous start to their innings when Richard Stobart was run out without facing a delivery in the first over courtesy of a direct hit at the bowler's end by keeper Brad Kneebone.

Whangarei Boys' High School's Kian Bird heads back to the pavillion after being dismissed by Fletcher Coutts. Photo / MichaeI Cunningham

Despite a 53-run partnership between Lewis Miller (37) and Sweeney (34), WBHS regularly lost wickets throughout the innings as spin bowling came to the fore.

Cooper (3 for 3) and Andrew Johnsen (3 for 32) ripped through the middle and lower order to dismiss WBHS for 126.

In the final match, Westech Automotives Maungakaramea secured a tight 13-run win over Kaipara Flats.

Maungakaramea batted first and got off to a strong start with Neal Parlane (41) and Mark Southee (26) putting on a half-century opening stand in just four-and-a-half overs.

Parlane in particular was in an aggressive mood, belting six fours and a pair of sixes in his 18-ball stay.

Carl Tomich came in and carried on where Parlane left off, scoring a controlled 46.

Kaipara Flats fought back with Rhys Jones (2 for 25) grabbing a pair of quick wickets before Ian Wallace's 30 steered control towards Maungakaramea.

Dion Blunden (2 for 5) took the final two wickets to have Maungakaramea all out for 193.

In reply Kevin Forde (55) and Liam Jones (32) put in committed stints at the crease but it wasn't enough to topple Maungakaramea.