Cricket: Maungakaramea, Kamo extend lead at the top

Kerikeri's Alex Poore helped his side to a convincing win over Onerahi Central in the Reserve Grade 40 Over Competition. Photo/John Stone

Westech Automotives Maungakaramea and Kamo have pulled clear at the top of the Reserve Grade 40-Over Competition after wins in their latest matches.

Maungakaramea took on fourth-placed Whangarei Boys' High School Second XI in a match where the result could have had major implications on the leaderboard.

Maungakaramea batted first and found runs fairly easy to come by.

Baxter Skudder (84) and Scott Harris (77) led the way for the away side, churning out runs at a good run rate.

WBHS bowlers Jacques de Beer (3 for 32) and Tim Osbaldiston (2 for 42) did their best to limit the Maungakaramea batsman, but they ended up reaching 215 for six from their 40 overs.

In their reply, WBHS stayed close to the required run rate without ever really threatening a win.

Cam Gordon scored 33 while Brandon Peck was unbeaten on 41 as they ended 44 runs short of the Maungakaramea total.

Meanwhile Kamo got the better of their Kamo High School opponents, winning by 56 runs.

Kamo batted first, scoring 218 in their 40 overs in a good team effort.

Kamo had four players with good contributions, with Jacob Cherrington (34), Leon Cross (35), Richard Cates (47) and Logan Choat (35) all making their mark with the bat.

In reply Kamo High batted well but another team performance from Kamo, this time with the ball, made the going tough.

Jeff Parker (4 for 27) and Connor Bolton (2 for 46) were the best of the Kamo High bowlers.

Thomas Bolton (38) led the way for Kamo High with the bat, but it wasn't enough for them as they were dismissed for 162.

Cates (2 for 34), Heera Singh (3 for 22), Manoj Rana (2 for 37) and Travis Connolly (2 for 5) took the bulk of the wickets.

In the other two matches, Kerikeri and Duracrete Products City had dominating wins.

Kerikeri batted first against Onerahi Central and set a target of 150 for the home side. Alex Poore top scored with 26.

Spinners Andrew Johnsen (3 for 13) and Gareth McCullough (2 for 23) toiled into the wind, while medium-pacer Martin Tansley (2 for 26) also bowled well.

In reply, Onerahi never even threatened to chase down 150 after Kerikeri opener Keep Pundir ripped out the top order.

Pundir, partnered with spinners Max Hart (1 for 26) and James Stirling (3 for 1), to dismiss the home side for a paltry 40.

Pundir ended with brilliant figures of eight overs, three maidens, five for 13.

In the final game, City demolished Bream Bay by 244 runs.

Batting first, City scored at seven and a half runs an over as they put on 303 for eight.

Opener Jeremy Guy was the star for City, scoring 116 off just 106 deliveries. Guy smashed 16 fours and a pair of sixes in his knock.

Guy got able assistance from Tim King (47) and Ravinder Maan (55 of 31).

Bream Bay's chase never got off the ground as Jason Smith (2 for 9) and Harley Smith (2 for 7) helped bowl them out for 59.