Win, loss for Marlborough TPL cricketers

The first shots were fired in the 2021-22 Tasman Premier League competition on Saturday, with Marlborough-based sides managing a win and a loss on opening day.

Starting their campaign in style were the Dolphins, predominantly players from the Celtic and Renwick clubs, who downed Nelson rivals Waimea Toi Toi United by 41 runs at Jubilee Park, Waimea.

In a low-scoring 50-over encounter Dolphins batted first and put a moderate total of 139, scored in 43.5 overs, on the board. Corey Bovey top scored with 23 from 38 balls, helped along by Tom Sutherland, 21 from 55, and Akhil Pant, with 18 from 33. Mitchell Grant took 4-18.

In reply, the home side began strongly, their opening partnership taking the score though to 53 before their first wicket fell. Then allrounder Jerrym Lamb took over, snatching 5-24 from 10 overs to rip the heart out of the WTTU reply. They were eventually dismissed for 98 in the 36th over.

At Horton Park, the Falcons, a mix of Wairau and Wairau Valley players, went down by 20 runs to Wakatu. The visitors batted first and put a mediocre total of 183 on the board. Dan Hooper’s 55 and 43 from Campbell McLean were the only scores of note, while Matthew Stretch snared 4-33 with his off spinners to be best of the home side’s bowlers. Tarin Mason claimed 2-32.

Batting stability has plagued Falcons for some time and Saturday was no different, the top order failing to fire, leaving them perilously poised at 70-7. Despite a 70-run partnership between Stretch, 51 from 101 balls, and his father Greg, 43 from 67, Falcons ran out of wickets as they chased for an unlikely victory in the fading light.

Pace bowler Nibu Jose claimed the top figures of 4-17 from 9.1 overs while Ryan Hooper, Riley O’Hara and Nathan Dufeu each bagged a brace.

Over-50 selection

Four players with Marlborough links were last week included in the Wellington/Tasman Firehawks Black over-50 team to contest the top tier of the national interprovincial tournament in Blenheim in January. They are Greg Stretch, Mason Robinson, Jason Campbell and Scott McHardy. The side will be led by former Black Cap Richard Petrie.