Ball dominated bat on the first day of the fourth round of the Northland Club Cricket Two Day Championship.
The two leading sides, Kamo and Kaipara Flats, met at Kamo Reserve on Saturday, with Kaipara Flats batting first on a greenish wicket.
Runs were hard to come by against asteady Kamo attack, and with wickets falling steadily, Kaipara Flats were rocked to be dismissed for only 91.
Richie McPherson with four for 17 and Jamie Millar with 3-14 were the pick of the bowlers. Unfortunately for Kamo, their batting fared even worse and crumbled to the pace of English import Joe Robbins. Kamo were dismissed for 62, with Robbins taking 6-31. At the close, Kaipara Flats were 40/3, putting them in a dominant position to play for outright points next week.
Batting first at Cobham Oval, Whangarei Boys High School would have been disappointed to post 133, being dismissed in the 44th over.
Only Fraser Seymour with 51 showed the necessary resistance, with Kieron Nelson taking 4-18 and Richard Atkins 3-33. A 76-run partnership between Bert Horner (44) and Richard Atkins (95) paved the way for City to post 199/7 before declaring with a lead of 66.
In the three overs available before stumps, City were unable to effect another breakthrough but do maintain a strong hold on the game.
The final game saw Maungakaramea host Onerahi and after winning the toss Onerahi elected to bat first, scoring 179. Bradley Kneebone played well for 40 while, for Maungakaramea, James Merry bowled well without reward and Craig Davie-Martin took 3-35.
In the remaining time, Maungakaramea were interestingly poised at 125/6 with Cody Andrews playing well for 62. Much of Maungakaramea's hopes for first innings points will rest on the shoulders of Joseph O'Sullivan, who retired hurt on 32 after suffering a hamstring strain.
