Bowlers on top as cricket begins

Renwick and Wairau Valley were the division one winners on opening day of the 2023-24 Marlborough club cricket season where the ball dominated the bat.

Renwick scored a five-wicket win over Celtic while Valley downed Wairau by eight wickets, both games played at Horton Park on Saturday.

Celtic batted first on the No 3 ground, being dismissed for 109 inside 18 overs. Opener Greg Knowles scored 46, Josh Poole 22, but there was little to show from the remainder. Chief destroyer was Renwick bowler Piers Landon-Lane who bagged 6-14.

Luke Frankland (42 not out) and Corey Bovey (33) then guided Renwick home, despite Jaden Adams picking up 3-20 from 10 overs.

On Horton Park one Wairau Valley proved far too good for an under-strength Wairau side, dismissing them within 24 overs for a paltry 53, with Baxter Croad’s 12 runs being top score for the men in blue.

Opening bowler Sukh Aulakh had the best return for the victors, bagging 5-11 from 7.3 overs, including the first three wickets to fall. Harry Campbell took 2-8 from six overs, while Greg Stretch marked his return from a stint in Europe with 2-10 from four.

In reply Valley raced to their meagre target in just seven overs, for the loss of two wickets.

Aulakh completed a fine all round opening day effort, scoring a quick 29 opening the Valley innings, while Nick Weaver grabbed both the wickets to fall.

Scores:

Division one (50-over games)

Wairau 53 Wairau Valley 57-2. Win to Wairau Valley

Celtic 109 Renwick 110-5. Win to Renwick

Division two (40-over games)

Wairau 99 Wairau Valley 100-8. Win to Wairau Valley