A solid team effort with the bat delivered Bayer Marist victory over Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens in the opening weekend of the Wanganui Porter Hire Premier 1 cricket season on Saturday.
Playing at Marton Centennial Park in Marton, last season's titleholders Marist batted first setting a target of 207runs from 47.2 overs.
Opening batsman John McIlraith top scored with 46 off 52 balls and included four fours, while batting at No7 Nick Blundell was in excellent form hitting 36 off 41 and included one six and four boundaries.
These two were backed up by captain Mark Fraser with 24 off 38 balls and Ross Kinnerly with 22 from 38.
Best of the ordinary Saracens bowling attack was Dane Slako's 22 off six overs.
In the chase Saracens captain Dom Rayner top scored with 52, while Brad Childs (29) and Daniel Ford (25) were the only ones to hit double figures and that told the story.
Fraser appeared in reasonable form for Marist with ball in hand, taking four wickets for 28 runs off eight overs, while team newcomer Jonathan Steward did major damage, taking three for just 10 runs off five overs, including a brace of ducks. Nick Blundell chipped in with two for 27 off eight overs and included the scalp of Saracens' opener Scott Oliver.
Four ducks in total during their time with the bat and relatively low scoring from most of the team gave Marist the opening they needed to bundle Saracens out for 149 in the 41st over.
In the Premier 2 division matches at Springvale Park Hire Wanganui High School set Wanganui Old Boys a target of 143 off 35 overs before bundling them out for 133 after 30.2 overs.
Ben Luoni (Old Boys) took four wickets for 23 runs off five overs and scored 15 runs not out from 28 balls.
Property Brokers Renegades had posted 122 for six after 40 overs before that total was easily hauled in by United scoring 123 for two in just 23.4 overs.
Ryan Balsley (Renegades) after hitting five boundaries during his spell with the bat eventually scored 33 from 43 balls. He then took two wickets for 22 runs off five overs.
The Tech versus Taihape results was not available, while the Collegiate 2nd XI versus Evans Henderson & Woodbridge Saracens clash was postponed.
