A career best 7 for 15 by Wellington Collegians captain Julian Brown and Lee Edwards’ 500th career club wicket for Karori were the highlights of an eventful day of Wilkinson Pearce Cup and Hazlett Trophy One-Day games on Saturday.
Brown’s seven wicket haul enabled Collegians to topple the previously unbeaten Naenae Old Boys by 63 runs. The other unbeaten side and playing through champions Karori defeated long time rivals Easts by 34 runs, with Edwards taking three wickets en route to surpassing the 500 wicket milestone.
Karori’s Lee Edwards being presented with a trophy by club legend Evan Gray upon reaching the milestone of 500 career wickets for his club side. Edwards, whose career started in 1997, became the third Karori player to reach this mark, after Harold Chapman and Gray. He is also the second bowler in Wellington club cricket in two seasons to reach this mark after Eastern Suburbs captain Lance Dry took his 500th Premier wicket last November. For the record, A.S Brice (1902-1935) holds the all-time Wellington club cricket wicket taking record with 1,173 victims. Photo courtesy of Alan Graham.
Rain on Friday affected some pitches as games were played on grass for the first time this season. Taita scored 140 for 8 against Upper Hutt and this was the score in the four Pearce Cup matches. Henry Walsh top scored for Taita and Shane Brockelbank took 4 for 12 from his 10 overs. But Upper Hutt were dismissed for just 28 courtesy of Andrew Sturt’s 5 for 11 and Hamish Blomfield’s 3 for 12.
Collegians made just 103 against Naenae with Adam Williams taking 4 for 30 and Michael Cornish 3 for 14 but Naenae could only muster 40 thanks to left-armer Julian Brown's devastating spell.
Onslow made 85 against North City with Hamish Kyne taking 3 for14. After losing three early wickets Norths recovered with Sam Keegan getting an unbeaten 40 to steer them home by 6 wickets.
In the battle of the giants, Karori made 105. Lee Edwards scored 38, Jamie Gibson took 3 for 18 and Narinjan Naguleswaran 3 for22, but Easts managed 71. Fraser Quarterman took 4 for 19 and Edwards capped off a fine day with 3 for16.
There was some higher scoring in the Hazlett Trophy, but joint leaders Petone-Riverside and Johnsonville both lost their matches.
Petone-Riverside had the highest score of the day. Batting first against Karori they made 194 for 8 thanks to Kelvin Snell scoring 82, but Karori reached their target with 9 wickets down. Jarred Sewell scored an unbeaten 74. Snell completed a good day, taking 4 for 35.
Hutt District scored 185 against Johnsonville with Kieran Lennon leading the way with 60. Steve Coleman took 3 for21 but Johnsonville could only score 121. Fergus Martin was the best bowler with 3 for 34.
Newly promoted Wainuiomata dismissed Easts for 123. Craig Foster and Iain Matheson both taking four wickets. They then lost six wickets in getting their target. Robbie Sewell top scored with 42 and Andrew Pollock took four wickets.
University scored 138 against Taita with James Renshaw taking 4 for22. Taita however could only get 116 in reply thanks to Simon Thomas taking 4 for 25.
In Senior Women’s cricket, Onslow won their two games, and Collegians and Hutt District one each.
For Wilkinson Pearce Cup full scoreboards and Wilkinson Hazlett Trophy and Senior Women short scoreboards click here