Cricket: Rain the ultimate winner in Saturday's action

YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE: Boys' High bowler Matt Kingi in action at Kensington Park. PHOTO/ JOHN STONE

The first round of the Oxford Trust Northland Cricket Premier Grade Two-Day competition was cut short by rain on Saturday but not before Kaipara Flat's Shaun Beamish had ripped apart the Kamo top order.

The Kaipara medium pacer was tough to play at Bourne Dean Park and dismissed the four top Kamo batsmen to put Kaipara on top at 97/6, when play was abandoned on the first day, with only 33.1 overs bowled.

Beamish will be looking to add at least another wicket to his tally when the second day of the match continues on Saturday, finishing his 11 overs with figures of 4/36.

Kamo will rue the fact that some of their batsmen got starts but none went on to reach a significant total and only a dogged rear-guard action plus a great bowling effort will help them to earn any points this weekend.

The youthful exuberance of Whangarei Boys High School paid off early in their match against competition heavyweights Duracrete Products City at Kensington Park.

Bert Horner was trapped LBW by Caleb Boswell-Smith at the end of the first over, with fellow opener Joey Yovich also dismissed cheaply. But a 96-run third wicket partnership between James Thompson (63no) and Ian Page (46) helped City to a respectable 130/3 before the rest of the day was rained out at the end of the 38th over.

City now have the opportunity to put together a decent total before trying to bowl Boys High out to earn first innings points on Saturday.

The final premier grade clash saw Onerahi take control against Westech Automotives Maungakaramea at the Maungakaramea Domain with a dominant display of bowling.

Despite the home advantage Maungakaramea's batting line-up crumbled to be seven down for 79 when the rain saved them from complete capitulation.

The wickets were shared around with two each to Scott Robertson, Tom Herman and Fletcher Coutts and one to Rory Anders.

The Northland Cricket Reserve Grade 40 Over Competition was completely washed out.