Cricket: Property Brokers United top of Twenty20 table

Ben Toyne and the other United bowlers restricted Marton to a gettable total in their match.

Property Brokers United's strong summer continues as they finished top qualifier for the Bullocks Premier 1 Twenty20 with a comfortable eight wicket win over Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Marton were held to 122-6 from their 20 overs, as they were slow at the start to be 49-3 in the tenth over, however a strong innings by James Wilson with 47 not out from 32 balls carried them through to a defendable total.

James Pennefather only conceded one run from his 12 balls, while Rangi Woods (2-17) got a couple of key wickets and Gerard Hobbs (2-19) was a little expensive at the end but continued his wicket-taking form to be the competition's most successful bowler.

In reply, the United veterans had the target wrapped up in the 17th over, as Ritesh Verma (19) was promoted to open after some solid form, and despite Sam Lambert (2-16) catching up with him and Martin Pennefather, Freddie Wilson (40) and Brendon Walker (35) put on an unbeaten 83-run partnership.

Neither Wilson or Walker felt the need to hurry, as besides Lambert the Marton bowlers struggled with their length – giving away gift runs they could not spare with 18 wides among the 22 extras.

In the other match, Marist certainly benefited from regular Treadwell Gordon Wanganui batsman Mark Fraser having baby duties for the weekend instead of going to Masterton, as the veteran was able to spare a few hours to led his team to a 60-odd run win over St Johns Tech.

Fraser scored 101 out of Marist's team total of 167, with Tech then bowled out for around 100 in reply.

There will now be a long gap until the championship is decided as the Premier 1 T20 finals will be held on the last day of the season on March 24.

Those games will be rematches from the weekend as United will meet Marton for the title, while Tech will face Marist in the playoff for third.

The Premier 2 title was decided on Saturday and Wanganui Collegiate 1st XI claimed the championship with a 20 run win over the Wanganui Renegades in the afternoon.

In the morning playoffs, the Renegades picked up a 36 run win over Central ITM Marton Saracens 2nd XI, while the Wicket Warriors Whanganui defeated Watsons Real Estate United 2nd XI.

The other afternoon playoff saw the Wicket Warriors hang on for a nine run win over Marton Saracens 2nd XI to finish third overall.

Scoreboard

Premier 1
Marton 1st XI 122-6 (J Wilson 47, A Canderle 19, S Lambert 18; R Woods 2-17, G Hobbs 2-19) lost to United 1st XI 123-2 (F Wilson 40no, B Walker 35no, R Verma 19; S Lambert 2-16) by eight wickets.

Marist 167 (M Fraser 101) bt Tech 100 (N/A).

Premier 2
Renegades 143-5 (B Heap 77no, A Heap 21; D Woolston 2-22, P Galpin 2-38) bt Marton 2nd XI 107-9 (V Kohl 48; A Manoussos 2-9, A Heap 2-17) by 36 runs.

Wicket Warriors bt United 2nd XI.

Premier 2 Playoffs
Wicket Warriors 122 (V Chacko 45, B Sebastian 27; B Cunningham 4-26, M Candy 3-7) bt Marton 2nd XI 113-6 (D Woolston 27, B Cunningham 19no; J Mathews 2-5, L Randhawa 2-15) by nine runs.

FINAL: Collegiate 151-5 (J Abernathy 53, B Donald 47, S Sheriff 23; D Maddren 2-17) bt Renegades 131-7 (M Deighton 21, R Moore 20, B Heap 18; J Abernathy 2-20) by 20 runs.