Dolphins bag boasting rights
Dolphins’ batsman Josh Poole drives through the off side on his way to a century on Saturday. Photos Peter Jones.
The two Marlborough sides in the resurrected Tasman Premier League competition met for the first time this season on Saturday.
The Dolphins took on the Falcons at Horton Park, with the Dolphins picking up their first victory of the 2025-26 season and denting their local rivals’ hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Batting first the Dolphins put together a decent total of 251 before being bowled out in the 48th over. Their score was built around a superb knock of 112 from Josh Poole, scored off just 104 balls. Playing shots all around the ground Poole slammed 14 fours and four sixes.
He had help from Aidan Conroy (31 from 56), Luke Holdaway (24 from 35) and Piers Landon Lane who helped him to his ton with 28 from 39.
Opening bowler Zariab Karkaria was the must successful of the Falcons’ bowlers, picking up four wickets for 49 from eight overs. Sam Boyce grabbed 2-27 from 8.3 while Andrew McCaa bagged 3-33 from 10 economical overs.
In reply the Falcons fell short, ending up on 223-8 after their full complement of 50 overs was bowled, losing by 28 runs.
Their innings saw sizeable contributions towards the top of the order from Josh Alexander (50 from 71), Griffin Carter (40 from 46) but at 125-5 after 30 overs they still had plenty to do against a persistent attack, with spinners Poole and Landon Lane to the fore in keeping the asking rate high.
James Bell, with an unbeaten 36 from 41, and Patrick Moran with 33 from 37 tried to raise the tempo towards the final overs but ultimately fell short.
The six bowlers used all played their part - Landon Lane picked up 4-46 from his 10 overs, Michael Anstis bagged 2-34 from six while Holdaway claimed 2-40 from nine.
Other TPL winners on Saturday were ACOB, who beat Nelson College by 150 runs, WTTU, who overcame Wakatu by three wickets and Wolves, who beat Stoke Nayland by five wickets.