The Marton Saracens were unstoppable on their way to a Premier Twenty20 championship on Saturday. Photos / Jared Smith
The Marton Saracens were unstoppable on their way to a Premier Twenty20 championship on Saturday. Photos / Jared Smith
It was back-to-back Jurgens Demolition Premier 2 Twenty20 championships for Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens, after a grand final rematch with their Rangitīkei rivals the Hunterville Hackers on Saturday.
In the playoff series for both Premier 2 and Premier 3, the four semi-finals were played at Springvale Park in themorning, with the winning teams advancing to their respective finals at Tasman Tanning (Victoria) Park in the afternoon.
Saracens picked up a comfortable 66-run win in their semi-final against the Wicket Warriors Whanganui P2s, but the other playoff saw a big upset as the Hackers defied two previous losses to top qualifier the Whanganui Renegades by securing a five-wicket boilover.
But like last December, there would be no more surprises in the final, as Saracens reached 142-9 on the back of runs from openers Chris Rayner (22) and Thomas Westwood (19), and then an important middle order knock from Rory Nugent-O’Leary (33 from 16 balls).
Hunterville’s Sam Lambert (3-24) and Chris Wilton (2-26) were the pick of the bowlers, while James Wilson was very economical with only 12 runs from his four overs.
The Marist 2nd XI after their weekend wins. Photos / Jared Smith
In reply, the Hackers were all out for 85 in the 16th over, as Nugent-O’Leary (2-22) picked up early wickets and then spinner Bryant Galpin (5-11) worked his way through the middle order.
Only Aidan Keogh (26) was able to establish himself before he also lost his wicket to Galpin, and then Westwood (2-12) was able to clean up for the tail for Saracens to keep the trophy they had brought with them from last summer.
There were nearly two Marton teams in the finals as the Richards Construction Marton Saracens came within four runs of beating top qualifier the Wanganui Vet Services Marist 2nd XI in a thrilling last over of their Premier 3 semi-final.
Saracens’ Mark Jones came in and hit three sixes in a row, but just could not manage a fourth off the last delivery.
The other semi-final saw the Kaitoke Knight Riders, finalists in the comparable Division 2 grade last season, picking up a comfortable six-wicket win over the Wicket Warriors Whanganui P3’s.
After a dominant competition, Marist were not going to let another team get close to them in the final, as their top order went on the attack in their run chase for a seven-wicket win.
Kaitoke made a defendable 153-6 on the back of runs from Zane Payne-Potaka (46), Darren Groube (19), Martin Cloete (23) and David Campbell (36).
But Marist opener Jordan Baldwin blasting 50 off just 16 balls set his team away to a flyer, as Zak O’Keeffe (29), Craig Thorpe (47 not out) and Kane Watkin (26) took care of the rest – the top order hitting 24 boundaries and five sixes between them.
Results for December 20
Premier 2 Twenty20 semi-finals
Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens 145-7 (D Ford 59, D Rayner 26; L Cherian 2-18) bt Wicket Warriors Whanganui P2’s 79 (S Sreekumar 26no, A Coelho 22; B Cunningham 4-10, R Nugent-O’Leary 3-5, D Ford 2-15).
Whanganui Renegades 130-6 (R Donaldson 24, W Martin 24, B Heap 22, M Deighton 19no; J Wilson 2-25, S Lambert 2-32) lost to Hunterville Hackers 131-5 (A Keogh 43, S Lambert 39, M Horton 21; R Donaldson 3-22, J Donaldson 2-27) by five wickets.
Final: Marton Saracens 142-9 (R Nugent-O’Leary 33, C Rayner 22, T Westwood 19; S Lambert 3-24, C Wilton 2-26) bt Hunterville Hackers 85 (A Keogh 26; B Galpin 5-11, T Westwood 2-12, R Nugent-O’Leary 2-22) by 57 runs.
Wicket Warriors Whanganui P3’s 111-9 (B Sebastian 47, S Nair 28no; D Holly 3-21, D Groube 2-15, M Tongotea 2-18) lost to Kaitoke Knight Riders 112-4 (D Campbell 60; S Soman 2-4) by six wickets.
Wanganui Vet Services Marist 2nd XI 149-4 (R Tofa 38no, C Stewart 37no, K Watkin 35, J Baldwin 20; M Jones 2-31) bt Richards Construction Marton Saracens 146-6 (S Edwards 39, K Stembridge 27, P Galpin 26, M Jones 21no; Z O’Keeffe 3-9) by three runs.
Final: Knight Riders 153-6 (Z Payne-Potaka 46, D Campbell 36, M Cloete 23, D Groube 19; Unknown 2-26) lost to Marist 2nd XI 159-3 (J Baldwin 50, C Thorpe 47no, Z O’Keeffe 29, K Watkin 26) by seven wickets.
