National title hopes bowled

SOLID: Robbie Speers, half-century for Greytown.

GREYTOWN have been eliminated from the 2015 national inter-club limited overs cricket series, a competition in which they finished fifth last year.

Their five wicket defeat by Hawke's Bay champions, Napier Old Boys, in Hastings on Sunday ousted them from the Central Districts playoffs.

Batting first, Greytown looked comfortable at 108-1 but that situation changed dramatically when they lost three wickets for one run, slumping to 109-4. Two useful middle order partnerships took them to 176-6 and they were dismissed for 216.

Highlights of the Greytown innings were the half-centuries to opener Paul Lyttle and first drop Robbie Speers. Lyttle's 51 came from 56 balls and included six fours, while the ever-consistent Speers struck seven fours in his 50. Other useful contributors were Jackson Kibblewhite (37 not out), Seth Rance (16) and Jason Ross (19).

With Central Stags paceman Rance unable to bowl because of injury the Greytown attack was considerably weakened and, after a 63-run opening stand, Napier always looked likely to reach their target, finally getting there for the loss of five wickets. Martin Reisima was economical with 2-21 from his 10 overs and Speers completed a solid all-round effort by claiming 2-36 off 6.1 overs.

-Short scoreboard: Greytown 216 (Ross 19, Lyttle 51, Speers 50, Lucas 0, G.Reisima 0, Rance 16, Kibblewhite 37 not out, Russo 5, Freeman 0, Butterfield 8, M.Reisima 1, extras 29; fall of wickets, 36, 108, 109, 109, 135, 176, 195, 195, 212, 216; Renuka-Prejad 10-1-32-1, Quinnn 7-0-50-3, Ward 10-0-43-1, Rangi 9-0-37-0, Scott 5-0-17-1, Sinclair 9-1-30-2) lost to Napier Old Boys 218-5 (Singh 45, Scott 66, Ward 6, Sinclair 64, Rangi 9 not out, Pollock 14, Ghodke 4 not out, extras 10; fall of wickets 63, 73, 191, 191, 206; Russo 10-0-60-0, Lucas 4-0-32-0, M.Reisima 10-0-21-2, Freeman 4-0-23-0, Speers 6.1-0-36-2, Butterfield 7-0-47-1).