Cricket final delayed - young and old in action on Sunday

Despite Friday evening’s central Blenheim-based deluge of rain and hail putting paid to any chance of the MCA 40-over senior final being played at the weekend, the grounds had dried sufficiently for some cricket to be played on Sunday.

On Horton Park one, a group of Tasman and Wellington over-50 representatives, including former Marlburians Scott McHardy, Jason Campbell and Mason Robinson, plus MCA chairman Greg Stretch, played their second trial 45-over match.

A team will be selected to represent the Wellington Tasman Firehawks at the forthcoming interprovincial tournament in Blenheim during January 2022. The players also had a hit out on Friday evening, before the rain came.

Meanwhile, at the Renwick domain, on artificial pitches, two Marlborough rep sides were in action against their Nelson counterparts.

The under-17 side dismissed Nelson for 160 in 45 overs, Griffin Carter grabbing 3-21. When it was the home side’s turn to bat they made hay, Cooper Roberts’ 81 and 33 from Tim Petrie seeing them amass 242-6 after 46 overs.

In the under-15 clash, Nelson gained a slight edge. They scored 218 batting first, Couper Robinson grabbing four wickets, then Marlborough were dismissed for 189, Caleb Speedy scoring 48, in the 48^thover.

The senior 40-over final between Celtic and Wairau will be still played, the new date for the decider now being Sunday, November 14.