Tech and Marton glad season's over

Canadian import Akash Gill dominated the MVP standings for the Coastal Challenge Cup, via statistics on the CricHQ website which saw him finish runnerup in both the batting and bowling stakes.

The end of season blues and the clash with the start of rugby season made for a disappointing Saturday as both St Johns Tech and Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens were hammered by their Horowhenua-Kapiti counterparts.

Only Marist picked up a 'victory' out of the four Whanganui teams on the last weekend of the Bullocks Coastal Challenge Cup, but that was via Kapiti forfeiting their wooden-spoon match at Victoria Park.

On Tasman Tanning No2 pitch, Tech were without allrounder Nick Harding, who was scoring tries and kicking goals up the road in Waverley, and some of them seemed like they would rather be there watching him as they folded for 82 against Wereroa in the playoff for third.

Beaten by United twice, Wereroa were still eager and did not want to lose at Victoria for a third straight week, as bowler Huka Kahu let off a whoop when he picked up his five-for in the 23rd over.

Kahu set the tone when he got Fraser Kinnerley and Sam Roebuck in the game's opening over, while Quintin Purvis fell not long afterwards, and then leading hope Dominic Lock had not troubled the scorers before Caleb O'Connell (2-18) trapped him in front.

Shortly off back to Canada for the summer season, Akash Gill would complete an MVP campaign as he top-scored with 22, which was not enough to maintain his spot as the highest runscorer of the Coastal Challenge as Property Brokers United's Greg Smith would surpass him by just six runs after scoring 52 across on No1 pitch in the Cup final.

Gill would still end up tieing United's Robbie Power as top wicket taker with 14 dismissals, as he took 2-14 from four overs.

But this was the sole bright spot for Tech as every other bowler got blasted for Wereroa to reach 82-3 in the 11th over, with mainstay opener Matthew Good smacking 42 not out from 31 balls.

Marton had a horror start against Levin at Donnelly Park as the home side raced to 64-0 in nine overs, after Oliver Gordon struggled with his line to give away 19 extras.

They worked their way back into contention through Dan Ford (2-43) and Andre Canderle (2-39) bowling well, but Levin got service up and down their batting lineup to post an intimidating 283-8.

After Jamie Pinfold (25) prospered through Marton's poor start and then Nick O'Brien (46) settled in the middle order with Stacey Kerehoma (35), it freed up the tail to have a blast, so Ryan Taylor (60) and Chris Bishop (36 not out) took advantage of that.

In reply, Marton were looking solid at 23-0 after six overs, but the intimidating target and all around apathy saw them collapse to be all out for 94.

Captain Dominic Rayner said they lost several players who had already committed to the start of rugby season, rather than their cricket playoff for fifth with little on the line.

Ford managed to reach the 20's before his dismissal in the only innings of note.

Results
Playoff for third: Tech 82 (A Gill 22, R Kinnerley 21, H Kahu 5-36, C O'Connell 2-18) lost to Wereroa 85-3 (M Good 42no, A Gill 2-14) by seven wickets.

Playoff for fifth: Levin 283-8 (R Taylor 60, N O'Brien 46, C Bishop 36no, S Kerehoma 35, J Pinfold 25, A Canderle 2-39, D Ford 2-43) beat Marton 94 by 189 runs.

Playoff for seventh: Marist bt Kapiti by default.