Falcons fall just short, Dolphins outpowered in Tasman Premier League

Two Marlborough combination sides had their first outings for the Tasman Premier League Saturday 50 over cricket competition this weekend, with losses to both their Nelson opponents – while Marlborough’s Developing Players beat a Nelson combination on Sunday.

The Dolphins, consisting of Renwick and Celtic players, struggled in their innings against a high-powered Athletic College Old Boys bowling attack and sharp fielding during Round 1 of the Tasman Premier League on Horton Park #1, being bowled out for just 94 runs in 33.4 overs.

Their top order failed to build momentum, with no 4 Max Armstrong’s 27 off 34 hitting five boundaries and no 5 Liam Young’s 24 off 58 being the best on the day – Young combining with Lachie Edwards 11 off 34 offering the best rearguard resistance for the locals.

Vinodh Perera was the standout bowler for ACOB claiming 3 wickets for 11 runs, while Martin Slabbert and Matthew O’Sullivan chipped in with two wickets each.

Two early LBW wickets gave the Marlborough side hope, taking both openers for less than five runs each, before ACOB’s no 3 Sam John combined with Perera at 4 stabilised the innings with John’s 36 off 30 and no 5 Jimmy Graham’s 28 off 18 carrying the Nelson side home in 15.1 overs.

The game on Horton Park #3 saw the Falcons – a fellow combination of Wairau and Wairau Valley players – play Wanderers Wolves who went into bat first.

Wolves’ opener J. Jones played a great opener’s knock, fending off the local bowling attack for 28 off 52. That laid the the platform for no. 5 J. O’Connor to combine his eventual 84 not out off 85 with a 35 off 68 from A Brogan at no. 8 and no. 6 J. Hobbs 27 off 30 taking the Wanderers side to 229/7.

Wickets were spread around the Falcons bowling attack, with Will Anderson claiming 2/36 off his six overs and one each for Joel Lavender, Zariab Karkaria, Andrew McCaa and Matthew Stretch.

The Falcons’ innings was one built around Andrew McCaa, with his 71 off 69 seeing him top score and combine with Joel Lavender’s 19 off 42 for a 50 partnership, while Wolves’ Hayden Ingram tore through fellow upper order batsmen, knocking over the stumps of openers Griffin Carter and Aidan Lavender, and no.4 Matthew Stretch.

The local batting lineup continued their total tick up with many singles ran down the order. Will Anderson’s quickfire 33 off 25, and solid contributions throughout the tail saw hope for the home side.

However, the locals couldn’t get across the line set by the Wolves as they were bowled out six runs short in 45.5 overs.

The other two Tasman Premier League games, between Stoke Nayland and Nelson City and Nelson College First XI and Wakatu Tigers in Nelson, were each abandoned.

Sunday saw a Marlborough Development XI side face their Nelson compatriots also at Horton Park, in a Barry Roberts Cup match.

Marlborough no. 5 Griffin Carter’s 80 off 94 including eight four’s was the game’s best knock, combining with Joshua Harris’s 33 for 58 for a 77 run stand for the 6^th wicket that left Marlborough defending 211 off 46.5 overs.

On what turned out to be a tough day with the bat and a great one for the fielders, six of the Marlborough batsmen were caught out, alongside two run-outs.

The Nelson chase saw regular wickets, with the lower order left to get the visitors close to the first innings total.

No 10 P. Bartlett’s 33 off 43 saw him carry his bat to the end of the innings, while 25 runs a piece from G. Smith and H. Ward – Smith’s 25 off 41 settling the middle order while Ward’s 25 off 22 with four fours accelerating the run rate but leaving Nelson ultimately bowled out for 158 after 40.3 overs.

Griffin Carter starred with the ball, taking 3/23 off his ten overs accompanied by Nick Drayton’s 3/44 off eight.