Cricket play-off positions decided

A second consecutive defeat has seen the Wellington/Tasman over-50 cricket team drop out of contention for the top position when the national tournament play-offs are staged in Blenheim tomorrow.

The Wellington/Tasman Firehawks required a win over the unbeaten Canterbury/Otago Mainlanders at Horton Park today but came up short, going down by 33 runs.

The Firehawks have specialised in hefty opening partnerships over the first two matches, but this time it was their opponents who set the tone with a big score for the first wicket.

Andrew Hore (81 off 76) and Craig Gibb (74 from 97) put on 161 runs before being separated in the 26^th over of the 45-over match. Although the home side chipped out wickets all the way to the final over, the Mainlanders were able to post a formidable 294-9.

Richard Petrie, 4-47, and Jason Campbell, 2-55, were the most successful of the Firehawks’ bowlers, most of whom took some tap.

The home side’s reply stuttered early, struggling to 67-4, before a quick 42 from Campbell sparked some momentum. Scott McHardy (63 from 72) and Mason Robinson (61 from 38) pushed on nicely, taking the score through to 240 before both perished within three balls of each other, leaving the tail too much to do as the run rate climbed.

Opening bowlers Tony Gray, 3-46, and Kelvin Scott, 2-58, did most of the damage, along with Scott Mason, who claimed 2-48 as the Firehawks were finally dismissed in the 44^th over for 261.

In the other match played on Horton Park, Districts booked their place in the play-off for 1^st and 2^ndtomorrow with a five-wicket win over Auckland.

Auckland batted first and registered a healthy 266-8, Adrian Gale scoring 75 and Grant Hall bagging three wickets.

In reply, Districts reached 268-5 in the 43^rdover, 85 from Adil Somani the batting highlight.

Canterbury/Otago will play Districts tomorrow for the top position, with the Firehawks meeting winless Auckland in the 3rd and 4th play-off.

In division two action at Oliver Park, Districts continued the run of high scores, amassing 322-5 against Auckland, who were bowled out for 266 in the 41^st over.

Canterbury/Otago emulated their top team with a 27-run win over Wellington/Tasman. The Mainlanders scored 252-8 then bowled the Firehawks out for 225.

Auckland will play Canterbury/Otago tomorrow for division two honours.