Falcons score TPL victory in Nelson

There were conflicting results for Marlborough’s two Tasman Premier League cricket teams during round three in Nelson today.

While the Falcons notched a five-wicket win over Stoke Nayland at Marsden Rec, the Dolphins were beaten by the same margin at the Brightwater Domain.

Stoke Nayland batted first against the Falcons, amassing 181 from 47 of the 50 overs available. The visitors wasted no time in chasing down their moderate target, losing just five wickets on their way to 182 in the 30

th

over.

The home side’s innings revolved around 69 from Josh Smith and 31 from Mitchell Drummond, Bailey Andrews-Kennedy the main destroyer with 4-28 from 7.1 overs. Harry MacDonald and Nick Weaver both grabbed a brace.

When it came their turn to bat, Falcons opened with a superb 84-run partnership between Chris Turkington and Benjamin Ivory-McCullum which set them up for victory. Turkington top scored with 52 at better than a run-a-ball, Ivory-McCullum scored 37, then Matt Stretch with an unbeaten 22 and MacDonald, who slammed 52 not out from just 26 balls, completed the job.

Liam Clark, 4-60, was the main wicket-taker.

The other match did not go as well for the Marlborough-based side involved. Wanderers-Motueka dismissed Dolphins for just 104 in 31.2 overs and ran down the score in 37.1 overs, for the loss of five wickets.

A makeshift Dolphins side were disappointing with the bat, Jesse Brar, who scored 19, top scoring, Ed Gilhooly notching 16 and Kirk Nicholas 12.

Logan Ogilvie, with 2-29 from eight overs was the top wicket-taker.

The home side’s batting was steady, not spectacular, several small partnerships pushing them towards a winning outcome. Will Smith bagged a couple of cheap wickets, but his side’s total was never enough.

Twenty20

On Wednesday, the last round of senior Twenty20 cricket was contested.

Winners were Celtic and Renwick, who lead the competition after four rounds.

Renwick’s latest victim was Wairau Valley, who they eclipsed by 43 runs at Horton Park.

Batting first, Renwick amassed a formidable 187-4 from their 20 overs. Their batting effort was led by former rep opener Rikki Bovey who blasted 59 from 36 deliveries. Joe Timms also registered a half century, scoring 52 from 22, while Akhil Pant notched a more sedate 38 from 49 to anchor the innings.

Matthew Stretch’s 3-21 from four overs was far and away the best of the Valley bowling effort.

Valley made a promising opening, Tim Abraham (30 from 19) and Patrick Wilkins amassing 43 from four overs but, when they perished, several wickets fell in quick succession and the run rate rose beyond a level Valley could match.

Stretch (27 from 19) and Louis Woollcombe (24 from 24) threatened with the bat but didn’t stay long enough to get their side home, Valley falling short at 144-8 after 20 overs had been completed.

Mike Anstis, with 3-29 from four, and Bovey, 3-26 from four, were the pick of the Renwick attack.

On the adjoining ground Celtic met Wairau, coming away with a five wicket win.

Wairau batted first and lost early wickets, the Celtic trio of Josh Poole, Matt McCormick and Jerrym Lamb claiming regular wickets, thus preventing their rivals, who finished with 117-9, establishing a meaningful partnership.

Harry MacDonald (28 from 20) and No 10 batsman Mike Croad (22 from 28) top scored for Wairau, while Lamb (3-14 from four), Poole (2-12 from three) and McCormick (2-39 from four) were the main Celtic wicket-takers.

Celtic’s chase was not entirely convincing. They were battling at 27-3 but the arrival of McCormick settled their nerves, the allrounder putting together a composed 66 from 49 balls to guide his side to a comfortable victory in the 18

th

over. Baxter Croad, 2-21 from three overs, impressed with the ball for Wairau.

Pre-Xmas standings:

Renwick 12, Celtic 8, Wairau 4, Wairau Valley 4, MBC 4.