Nelson cricketers rule at Saxton

Nelson’s rep cricketers dominated the Hawke Cup zone three qualifying fixture at Saxton Oval over the weekend, claiming a convincing first innings win against a Marlborough side which found themselves under the pump for most of the fixture.

After winning the toss, Marlborough elected to put Nelson in to bat and, with the home side sitting pretty on 394-7 at the end of day one, it was a decision the visitors quickly rued.

Nelson formed a succession of decent partnerships. Openers Jonty Raxworthy (55 runs from 94 balls) and Andrew Beatson, who anchored the innings with 116 from 317 balls, set the tone, then Sam John (32 from 33), Michael Olsen (88 from 102) and Ronan Restieaux (42 from 46) maintained the momentum as the visitors were made to toil for their successes.

Nelson batted on early Sunday morning but not for long, adding 21 runs for the loss of another wicket before declaring their innings closed at 415-8.

For Marlborough, Will Anderson was the top wicket-taker, bagging 3-69 from 18 overs while a heavy workload fell on the spinners, Griffin Carter claiming 1-50 from 20 overs and Josh Poole 1-61 from 24. Luke Pannell, Zariab Karakia and Sam Boyce picked up a wicket apiece.

On a wicket which appeared batter-friendly, Marlborough needed to find some solidarity, but little was forthcoming as they were bowled out for a paltry 135 in 45.3 overs.

Opener Aidan Conroy top scored with a patient 43 from 95 balls, but could find little help in forming a meaningful partnership as a succession of visiting batsmen came and went. Number nine batsman Anderson contributed 19 runs from 25 deliveries to help push Marlborough past 100, but there was little respite from a Nelson attack that was well on top.

Leading the way was medium pacer Logan Andrews, in his first red ball rep fixture, who claimed a stunning 5-17 from seven overs to rip the heart out of the Marlborough line-up. Opening bowler Kaleb Mckay did the early damage, finishing with 4-33 from 13.

The decision to make Marlborough follow on was quickly made, Nelson pushing hard for an outright win and maximum points

The visitors were again in early trouble, losing four quick wickets for just 29 runs before Luke Holdaway and Griffin Carter dug in.

They took the score through to 85 and used up some valuable time, before Carter, 33 from 19, perished. Max Armstrong followed him back to the shed soon after but Holdaway, who finished unbeaten on 43 from 110 balls, joined forces with veteran Sam Boyce and the pair batted carefully to take the match through to stumps on Sunday.

Marlborough finished on 107-6 after 39 overs, still 173 runs behind Nelson’s single innings but had avoided an outright defeat.

Andrews was again prominent with the ball, bagging 3-42 from nine, while Restieaux claimed 2-9 from five.

Marlborough coach James Bell admitted his side were “just outclassed”.

He had praise for a couple of the younger brigade, Aidan Conroy, who hung around in the first innings when more experienced players were falling around him, and Luke Holdaway, who carried an injury into the match and could not bowl, but defied all Nelson could throw at him while at the crease late in the day to prevent the outright.

Marlborough’s next qualifying match is against Canterbury Country in Blenheim on January 10-11.

The Marlborough team was: Will Anderson, Andrew McCaa, Sam Boyce, Luke Holdaway, Josh Poole, Max Armstrong, Griffin Carter, Aidan Conroy, Zariah Karkaria, Joel Lavender, Luke Pannell, Ben Stewart.