CRICKET - City fail to clinch premier-grade whitewash

MAUNGAKARAMEA stopped a possible City Cricket Club's whitewash of the premier-grade competition this season by picking up the second Whangarei and Districts one-day cricket title on Saturday.
Last season's champions beat Kamo easily but, with the start of winter sports season, both sides fielded teams missing a number of regular players.
The Maungakaramea batsmen did their job on Saturday, scoring 220/8 in their 50 overs on the artificial surface at Kensington Park. The runs were all shared around the team, with Dean Child (36) and Ben Cochrane (32) top-scoring.
Kamo were all out in 36 overs and posted just 112 runs in reply. Tailenders Warren Choat (24) and Aaron McIntosh (23) scored a large part of the Kamo total after opening bowler Ryan Mills caused mayhem among the Kamo top order.
Mills added six wickets to his 30 runs with the bat to take 6/34 off his 10 overs and destroy any hopes of a Kamo win.
City needed Kamo to win and then had to beat Whangarei Boys' High to take their third title of the season, after they won the first one-day competition and the two-day series.
But, all City managed was to help boys' high finish their season on a positive note by failing to chase down the 136 runs they needed for the win.
Vishan Harypursat top-scored for boys' high with 21 runs, with a few other batsmen getting runs, but the total never looked a daunting one for City on the artificial surface.
Tight bowling by the students gave City the opportunity to fall on their swords and they did it willingly. Jamie Matthews once again ended the match with the best figures of 4/24.
The final premier grade match was another low scoring affair. Onerahi reached 165 in 46.4 overs, with Barry Herman top-scoring with 40 runs.
Kaipara, who fielded only 10 players, were further restricted in their chase by Tas Satti injuring his hand leaving him unable to bat, and they were all out for 131 in 35.1 overs.
Yesterday, the Cobham Club Masters team took on Northland Secondary School team at Cobham Oval to officially bring the curtain down on Whangarei Club Cricket this season.
Boys' high batted first and scored 156 before being dismissed in the 49th over. Kamo High School's Curtis Cherrington top-scored with 37, with Todd Beehre the next best scorer with 19. Kelvin Johannsen finished with the best figures for the Cobham selection, with 4/20.
Good bowling and fielding by the students surprised the masters' side and they were dismissed for just 129 in reply, with Owain Hopkins the top-scorer with 37. Tyler Johannson led the way to a 32 run win with 3/13, with Josh Matthews taking 3/26 and Rory Darkins 2/15.