Marshall fires Kaipara off to good start

Northern Districts batsman James Marshall got the ideal preparation for the upcoming first-class domestic season, belting out a ton for his club side Kaipara Flats against City in the opening day of the premier grade Twenty20 competition.
The first two rounds of T20 at Kensington Park on Saturday welcomed in the new Bellahomes Northland Cricket season, and Kaipara Flats looked to be early contenders after winning both their matches.
After defeating Maungakaramea in their first match by 74 runs, with Brett Hood making 62 runs, and player/coach Tauseef Satti adding a handy 32, Kaipara went on to beat City by 43 runs.
Opening batsmen Brad Wilson and Satti were dismissed for single figures, leaving Marshall and Hood the job of forging a partnership of 150 runs.
Kaipara skipper Kevin Forde came to the crease when Marshall was dismissed for 106, and he and Hood (43 not out) made 75 together.
Chasing 189, City fell short, reaching 146 in their 20 overs, with six wickets falling, with Wilson taking two for seven runs, and Satti also getting two for 30. Ian Page top scored for City, with 51 and Bert Horner made 35 runs.
City won their first match against Onerahi Central and after winning the toss and electing to bowl first, City had Onerahi all out for a paltry 44.
Vishaan Harypursat snatched two wickets for four runs and Rory Darkins also took two wickets, for 12 runs, while his brother Harry Darkins took two for 11.
City comfortably reached their target in just five overs with no wickets falling, with Horner along with Chris Page at the crease, not out on 26 and 10 respectively.
Defending T20 champions Whangarei Boys High had a shaky start, losing to last year's wooden spooner's Kamo.
Boys High batted first and opening batsman Bradley Kneebone compiled 22 runs, while skipper Henry Cooper top scored on 45, and the rest of the batting order contributed single figures to reach 110-7.
Ritchie MacPherson was the pick of the Kamo bowlers, picking up 3-27, while Jamie Millar took 2-28.
Kamo's captain Rhys Ferrand opened the batting, remaining at the crease for the 17.2 overs it took to reach 111-1 to win, to finish unbeaten on 37.
Niroshan Hapu made 47 before being dismissed by Aiden Miller, and player/coach Dean Williams was on 13 not out at the crease with Ferrand.
Boys High went on to defeat Onerahi Central after bowling them all out for 98 in 17.3 overs in their second match, while Kamo were defeated by Maungakaramea. Maungakaramea made 152 with five wickets falling, and in reply Kamo made 123 in their 20 overs, losing nine wickets.
Rounds three and four of the T20 will be played this Saturday at Kaipara Flats, with round five on Sunday.