Cricket: Bowden shows allround skill

Onerahi-Central's left-arm pace bowler Dewayne Bowden has posed plenty of problems for opposition batsmen this season, but it was his bat which dominated play on Saturday.

Bowden struck a quick-fire 58 to give his side a comfortable win over City in the morning's Northland Cricket Association premier grade Twenty/20 game.

He followed this up by top-scoring with 67 in the afternoon's match against Kaipara Flats - cementing Onerahi-Central's place in the final as the top qualifier.

Although well beaten on Saturday, Kaipara Flats still finished second on the competition ladder and so will meet Onerahi in the final, which will be played at Cobham Oval on March 10.

In the other morning games, Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys' High School posted 136 for four wickets, led by David Armitt's 60 not out, to comfortably beat Maungakaramea who could only post 94 in their 20 overs. Kaipara Flats passed Kamo's total of 96 with three overs to spare, thanks to some big hitting from Ray Beamish and Kyran Dill.

In the afternoon, with Sam Walker leading the way with both bat and ball, Kamo bounced back to beat Boys' High by 17 runs.

Maungakaramea also found improved fortunes in their afternoon fixture, accounting for City by 15 runs.

NCA Mark Cromie Holden T20 Competition, March 2

Round 9: Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys HS 136 for four wkts (David Armitt 60 n.o.) beat Maungakaramea 94 for six wkts; City 92 for nine wkts (Jake Serotsky 44; Chris Harrison 4/20) lost to Onerahi-Central 93 for three wkts (Dewayne Bowden 58); Kamo 96 lost to Kaipara Flats 98 for three wkts (Ray Beamish 39, Kyran Dill 38 n.o.).

Round 10: Kaipara Flats 105 for seven wkts lost to Onerahi-Central 106 for five wkts (Dewayne Bowden 67); Kamo 130 for six wkts (Sam Walker 45) beat Zest Insurance Whangarei Boys HS 113 for nine wkts (John Child 34; Sam Walker 3/22); Maungakaramea 172 for seven wkts (Luke Gillingham 47 n.o., Dean Child 43) beat City 157 for seven wkts (Stephen James 38 n.o., Jake Serotsky 37, Marco Annandale 35).

Final points: Onerahi-Central 14; Kaipara Flats 12; Kamo 10; City 8, Maungakaramea 8; Zest Insurance WBHS 4.