Eastern Suburbs kept their Dominion Post Premier one-day title aspirations alive on Saturday with a commanding win over defending champions Naenae Old Boys in the sixth round set of matches on Saturday.
Easts’ nine-wicket win over Naenae keeps the seven-time Dominion Post Premier Competition champions in the hunt for the final, putting them in the middle of a cluttered points table heading into this coming weekend’s last round set of one-day matches.
With one round to go, new leaders Karori (29 points), Hutt Districts and Onslow (26) North City (24) and Easts (21) are all still in contention to make this year’s one-day final, ahead of Taita (18), Naenae (6) and Upper Hutt (3).
The Eastern Suburbs opening duo of Julian Dean and Josh McLaughlan played starring roles in their teams’ big win over Naenae at Kilbirnie Park, despite a captain’s knock of 88 by State Wellington Firebirds batsman BJ Crook that set up a competitive total of 247 for 7 off their 50 overs.
Dean and McLaughlan both hit centuries as Easts avenged last year’s close one-day final loss, putting on 167 for the first wicket to steer Easts to victory with over 14 overs to spare.
Dean did the bulk of the early scoring and was dismissed for 107, while McLaughlan (108 not out) and State Wellington Firebirds opener Josh Brodie (18 not out) saw them home.
At Karori Park, the home team restricted Taita to 184 for 9, with the Houghton brothers Mark (71) and David (20) the only batsmen to reach 20 and Sunny Chan returning 5 for 35 from his 10 overs. Opener Stephen Murdoch then led the chase with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 104 as Karori reached the target in 42 overs.
At the Hutt Recreation Ground, previous leaders North City were beaten by Hutt Districts by four wickets and overtaken by both Hutt and Onslow who had an eight-wicket win over Upper Hutt at Barton Oval.
North City scored 221-7 thanks to Ben Jansen (59) and Dewayne Bowden (47). Hutt got off to a shaky start but a 96 run stand between Chris Nevin (80) and Graham Napier (94 not out off 92 balls) saw Hutt get home with 25 balls to spare.
Upper Hutt reached 141-8 thanks to some lower order resistance but Onslow were in no trouble losing only 2 wickets scoring the required runs. Liam Chrisp scored 55.
The Dominion Post Senior competition is just as exciting, with five teams still alive in chasing the two final spots in the seventh and last round this coming weekend.
Johnsonville still lead on 29 points, with University hot on their heels on 24, Petone-Riverside and Wellington College both on 22 and Taita on 19.
At Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville beat Wainuiomata by nine wickets, bowling Wainui out for 99 (Gareth Powell 3 for 21) and reaching the target with consummate ease with over half their overs left (Luke Woodcock 40 not out).
University completed a convincing six-wicket win over Collegians, whose early season batting woes continue. Michael Burns (3 for 20) and Matt Sanders (3 for 21) combined for Collegians to dismiss Collegians for 73 at Kelburn Park and they had little trouble making the runs.
Wellington College and Petone-Riverside played out a dramatic tie at Wellington College. The school team batted first scoring 208-7 with Harry Boam scoring 87 off 106 balls. Petone-Riverside looked comfortable at 193-5 but then lost five wickets for 15 runs to have a tie with three balls remaining. Blair O’Brien top scored with 53 while Tom Pere took 5-24.
Taita won the battle of the second teams at Fraser Park, dismissing Norths for 62, Matt Lewer getting 5-14. They lost only one wicket getting the required runs.
In the Senior Women’s competition Sarah Sim scored 100 for Johnsonville as they beat Hutt by 67 runs at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Onslow beat Taita by 9 wickets in the other game at Fraser Park.