Taieri 191 all out beat
Kaikorai 169 all out by 22 runs
A youthful Taieri team is off the mark this season with a tenacious 22-run win over Kaikorai at Bayfield Park.
Led by half-centuries from Jack Hunter and Gus Wood, Taieri worked its way through to 191 before Jacob Beal-Harris was the last man out in the 46th over.
However, to reach a total near 200 was an achievement in itself after Taieri had slumped to 48 for five early in its innings.
Scoring runs at a good pace was not a problem for Taieri, but maintaining partnerships was, as Kaikorai bowlers Jacob Duffy, Jackson Latham and Adam Flegg scythed through the top and middle order.
Hunter and Wood put on 129 for the sixth wicket, scoring at a good clip.
Hunter’s 53 came off 95 balls, while Wood was not afraid to play shots on his way to 56 off 83 balls.
Taieri’s last four wickets fell for four runs, leaving Kaikorai needing under four runs an over to take the win.
That was easier said than done, as Jack Hunter chipped away at Kaikorai’s top order, claiming the first four wickets to fall to leave Kaikorai at 53 for four in the 12th over.
Two Taieri youngsters then made their mark.
Ben Lockrose, who enjoyed a productive week with Otago Boys’ High School in the McCullum Cup, took two for 27 with his left-arm spin and Beal-Harris bowled perfectly to a plan to take three for 42 off his 10 overs.
Hamish Robertson (46) and Ryan Whelan (38) were the main threats for Kaikorai, but Whelan’s departure at 167 effectively marked the end of Kaikorai’s chase.
NEV 155 all out lost to
Albion 156 for five by five wickets
Albion is the only unbeaten team after two rounds, following another efficient performance to down North East Valley at Ocean Grove.
The game was moved from Culling Park, due to the ground being underprepared, and for a while, it looked as the change of venue suited North East Valley as Anaru Kitchen (36) and Anthony Wilkinson (22) piled on 57 for the first wicket in 11.3 overs.
A stiff breeze made life difficult for those bowlers battling into the wind, but Patrick Arnold was quick to adjust to the the conditions, bowling all 10 of his overs into the wind and claiming two for 21.
Jack Harper and Dexter Marsh took two wickets each before offspinner Teja Nidamanuru cleaned out North East Valley’s tail with three for 16 from five overs.
Ruan Markham (23) and Michael Rae (20) were the only other two NEV batsmen to make it out of the teens.
Much like last week’s win over Kaikorai, Albion was able to pace its run chase, although the Culling Park side was in a spot of bother at 24 for two.
Sam Wells (43 off 51 balls) and Josh Tasman-Jones (52 not out) provided the bulk of the runs as Albion chased down the total with one ball gone in the 43rd over.
Sam Blakely (two for 33) was the only NEV bowler to claim two victims.
Carisbrook Dunedin 174 all out lost to
G. Island 175 for five by five wickets
Ryan Duffy and Taine Bayly tried their best to post a big score, but Carisbrook Dunedin’s total of 174 proved to be 30 to 40 runs short as Green Island ran down the target of 175 with six overs to spare at Sunnyvale.
Duffy carried on from his century on the opening weekend with 79 from 123 balls on Saturday, collecting four fours and three sixes.
He put on 86 for the fourth wicket with Bayly, who steadily gathered three fours and a six on his way to 40 off 59.
However, extras was the next top scorer on 22.
Veteran Mark Joyce took four of the last five wickets.
Seamer Kevin Loggenverg also made an impressive debut for Green Island, taking one for 29 off his 10 overs.
Green Island’s response could be best described as a team effort.
No batsman pushed on past 40 but, by the same token, not one of the dismissed batsman scored less than 19.
Youngster Kurt Johnston tried his best to give Carisbrook Dunedin a fighting chance, taking three for 23 from 10, but contributions from Scott Simpson (36), Ant Harris (29) and Brad Wilson (28) formed the bulk of Green Island’s run chase.
