Club cricket finds a weather window

IMPORT: Canadian import Akash Gill showed his class top scoring for Tech against against United on opening day of club cricket at Springvale Park on Saturday. PHOTO/Natalie Sixtus

Surprisingly, the Porter Hire Wanganui club cricket season began on Saturday despite the near winter-like conditions.

The decision was made earlier last week to use the all-weather pitches at Springvale Park rather than risk the Tasman Tanning grounds at Victoria Park.

While the weather did not allow the mowers to groom the grass at Springvale Park, play did manage to begin later than initially scheduled on Saturday after what sun was shining combined with a stiff breeze to help dry the outfield.

Property Brokers United and St Johns Tech managed to get their clash under way at 1.30pm, while the Matt Burke Engineering Marton Sararcens game against Marist on the adjacent pitch was delayed until 2pm.

United, the inaugural winner of the Coastal Challenge last season, continued on its winning way with a five wicket victory over last year's club competition runners-up Tech.
Meanwhile, Marist comfortably beat last year's club champions Marton.

Marton won the toss and elected to bat scoring 98/6 after 22 overs with Dominic Rayner scoring a captains kock of 57 not out from just 55 balls. However, even his impressive 103.64 strike rate was not enough to hold out a determined Marist.

Rayner's team mate and opening batsman Scott Oliver held the fort for a time chalking up 24 runs from 46 balls before being stumped. The rest of the Marton batsmen produced dismal performances.

Marist bowler Max Smith did the most damage taking three wickets for just eight runs off three overs, while team mate Craig Thorpe took 3/19 off five overs and Mark Fraser 1/9 off two.

In the chase with the bat Thorpe top scored with 28, while Smith racked up 21 and opener John McIlrath 19.

Marist made 99 after 22 overs for five wickets to win the match.
United also chased to find their win over Tech.

Tech was put into bat after United won the toss where import Akash Gill gave a glimpse of why he is a Canadian U19 player.

The 17-year-old is in New Zealand under the watchful eye of Cricket Wanganui for six months to advance his game and on Saturday opened the batting for Tech alongside Tyler Lock.

Gill scored an impressive 27 runs off 38 balls for a strike rate of 71.05 before being caught. It was hard graft on Springvale Park with the damp outfield slowing the ball considerably.

Gill top scored for Tech with tailender Devon Purvis coming on late in the piece to chalk up 22 runs from just 28 balls. The only others to make double figures were Ross Kinnerley (14) and Dom Lock (11), although there were 18 extras.
United were all bundled out for 111/10 after 31.5 overs.

Best of the United bowlers were vice-captain Robbie Power (2/8 off 3.5), captain Tom Lance (3/10 off 6), newcomer Simon Badger 3/26 from 6) and Dylan Martin 2/28 off 4).

New Active Physio Wanganui representative skipper Simon Badger top scored in the chase rackng up 31 from 39 balls, while opener Alistair Bostock was steady with 29 runs from 110 balls. Tom Lance (12) and Greg Smith (13) were the only others in double figures apart from the 24 extras.
United reached 112 with the loss of five wickets after 34.4 overs.

Wanganui Collegiate School had the bye.