Rain brings early end to final

SQUARING UP: Marist's Mark Fraser gets a rising ball, watched by Tech wicketkeeper Dominic Lock.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 201214WCSMCRICKET2

WHILE the weather has delayed either Bayer Marist or St John's Tech's shot at Taranaki one-day champions Inglewood, at least a couple of representative batsmen had a chance to play themselves into some form at Victoria Park on Saturday.

Marist and Tech's knockout final on the Tasman Tanning No1 pitch was rained out before the second innings could get under way, and conditions were still too wet yesterday to use the back-up day. The match will have to be played in the New Year in order for the winner to meet Inglewood by the cut-off date of January 20.

Batting first, Marist amassed a very competitive 256-8 from their 50 overs.

After both were dismissed cheaply in Active Physio Wanganui's innings win over Wairarapa the previous weekend, Jonathan Steward with an undefeated 92 and Todd Inness with 62 were the main contributors for the team.

The other batsmen made starts but did not carry on, with Tech paceman Travis Bartels being a little expensive but picking up 5-58 from his 10 overs, including nearly a hat-trick.

Steward, with 11 boundaries and a six, carried on after key batsman Mark Fraser holed out trying to hit spinner Jessica Watkin over the fence, with Trent Hemi taking the catch on the boundary.

Hemi would finish with 2-39 from his 10 overs, while Nick Harding was conservative, conceding just 35 from his maximum overs.

However, the light covers went out immediately in the innings break as the spitting rain set in and ended play for the day.

Across the field on Tasman Tanning No2, Property Brokers United didn't mind playing water polo style for a few overs to pick off the remaining runs for a five-wicket win over Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens.

Six United bowlers picked up wickets as Marton collapsed to 124 all out.

Only Dan Ford (20) made another middle-order fight, supported by Bryant Galpin (20), while Jono Hicks (25) had a small flourish at the end.

United opener Tom Lance (67 not out) then carried his bat through, with support coming from Robbie Power (29).

Although their team floundered a little to be 64-5 in the 15th over, captain Gerrard Hobbs (15 not out) steadied the ship to give Lance the opportunity to polish things off in the wet.