St Johns Tech continued their run on top of the Coastal Challenge Cup as a determined fielding effort led them to a seven wicket win over Weraroa CC as all the Whanganui sides face their Horowhenua-Kapiti counterparts for the first time on Saturday.
On Tasman Tanning No2, defending champions Tech met a Weraroa side keen to get payback for their surprise semifinal loss the previous summer, while in turn they were missing some key players like Akash Gill, Kane Watkin, Bevan Hunter and the departed Calum Coker.
Weraroa worked through to 76-1 after 12 overs, with their experienced top order of Matthew Good (26), Adam Simonsen (27) and Thomas Morgan (26) all playing themselves in.
Having gotten through the opening barrage of Ross Kinnerley, Weraroa tried to attack spinner Jessica Watkin, but she was well supported by her fielders cutting off the ball off and applying pressure - with Josh Roebuck nearly getting a run out with a direct hit from the deep.
After drinks, Nick Harding returned and swiftly trapped Simonsen LBW, which triggered a mini collapse before Weraroa's lower middle order began to lead a recovery at 128-5.
However, from there the remaining batsmen were picked off for 36 runs through either being caught out or run out as Tech completed a good comeback from Weraroa's swift start, lowering their colours for 164.
Tech were then under pressure again when their opening allrounders Harding and Caleb Greene were gone within three overs, before Sam Roebuck (37 not out) steadied the ship, joined by the promoted Kinnerley (22).
Kinnerley's departure brought captain Dominic Lock to the crease and just as 12 months before, he played the match-winning innings after slogging 86 not out from 51 balls, as part of a 118 run partnership with the watchful Roebuck.
Echoing his previous 115 against Weraroa, Lock would hit the ball on the up to clear the boundary rope eight times - swatting the final 11 runs required in the 29th over with a boundary and a six, followed by a cruisy single.
Lock admitted to being worried about chasing a possible 280 plus score when Weraroa started so confidently.
"We fielded well. Our bowling was wayward but we took our catches, got a couple of run outs."
He acknowledged the contribution of the young players who had come in for the absent regulars, chasing everything in the field and putting the pressure on.
"They gave a bit more energy."
Likewise happy with their efforts were Property Brokers United, who made a brief stop at Kena Kena Park to hammer last year's semifinalists Paraparaumu by eight wickets in a match that lasted less than 33 overs.
United's bowlers ran through their hosts for 79 in the 21st over, with over half of the team total coming from captain Andre Halbert (35).
Simon Badger destroyed both the middle order and tail for 5-25 in 5.3 overs, while young Dylan Martin got trapped dangerman Halbert and then bowled both Josh Bohmer and James Logan in the space of three balls on his way to an outstanding 4-6 in four overs.
Not wanting to hang around, United smacked the winning runs in the 13th over, after Matthew Boswell (26) and Gerard Hobbs (29) made a quick fire start, then Greg Smith and Robbie Power quickly accounted for the last 14 runs.
The decisive win moved United into the Top 4, replacing Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens, who disappointed faltered in their run chase at the Paraparaumu Domain to lose to Kapiti Old Boys by 20 runs.
Marton were looking good after they got through Kapiti's top order of Hayden Wright (33) and captain Martin Harrison (20) to leave the home side struggling at 89-6, before allrounder Carter Andrews (32) and Connor Beleski (22) offered some resistance in the tail.
But 147 did not seem to be enough, Marton's best bowlers being Sam Lambert (4-32), Andre Canderle (3-36) and Bryant Galpin (2-16), while captain Dominic Rayner was conservative with 1-24 from his eight overs including three maidens.
Marton seemed to be trucking well with a 66 run opening stand from Hamish Harding (37) and Jason Harris (21), but in a crucial four over period, they were gone as well as Scott Oliver, Craig Clare and Josh Trillo for ducks to leave Marton struggling at 72-5.
Andrews (3-33) and Connor Beleski (2-29) cut a swath through the top order.
Only Rayner (32 not out) held his wicket, with support coming from Lambert (19) to nearly have Marton in sight of the promised land at 112-5.
But with brother Chris Rayner not playing, while Dan Ford was used as No11 and Galpin did not bat, Dominic Rayner had run out of support and Marton folded for 127 with Michael Newall (2-6) getting the last two wickets.
A poor start with the ball for Marist contributed to a 100 run loss to last summer's finalists Levin Old Boys on Tasman Tanning No1.
Captain Mark Fraser said they bowled both sides of the wicket on an "up and down" pitch, once again leaking far too many extras, between 20 and 30 in the innings, to let Levin get to 30-0 in the opening overs for a gift start.
The visitors reached 250, which included a 50 run partnership from their final pair, while Marist were relying on opener Sam O'Leary (74 not out) and Fraser for the key partnership, especially with in-form John McIlraith away at a wedding.
But Fraser's departure a 47-3 in the face of some aggressive pace bowling was the writing on the wall, with no one else getting over 20, for Marist to be dismissed for 150, with Levin sticking to bowling accurately on one side of the wicket.
Scoreboard
Weraroa 164 (A Simonsen 27, M Good 26, T Morgan 26, N Harding 3-54) lost to Tech 165-3 (D Lock 86no, S Roebuck 37no, R Kinnerley 22) by seven wickets.
Paraparaumu 79 (A Halbert 35, S Badger 5-25, D Martin 4-6) lost to United 81-2 (G Hobbs 29, M Boswell 26) by eight wickets.
Kapiti Old Boys 147 (H Wright 33, C Andrews 32, C Beleski 22, S Lambert 4-32, A Canderle 3-36) bt Marton Saracens 127 (H Harding 37, D Rayner 32no, J Harris 21, C Andrews 3-33) by 20 runs.
Levin Old Boys 250 bt Marist 150 (S O'Leary 74no) by 100 runs.