Opening bowler Richard Pyrah’s nine wickets helped put seven-time defending champions Eastern Suburbs in a commanding position at stumps against Taita in the opening day’s play of the two-day round of the Dominion Post Premier Competition on Saturday.
Yorkshire country professional Pyrah took 7 for 33 in 11.3 overs to help shoot out Taita for 54 and then captured 2 for 12 late in the day in Taita’s second innings following on, returning him 9 for 45 for the day.
Taita were 137 runs behind with eight second innings in hand at stumps, following Easts’ first innings score of 203 batting first at the start of the day (Josh Stuart 51, Scott Golder and Pyrah both 37).
Competition leaders Karori scored 237 for 8 in 51 overs against Onslow. Stephen Murdoch scored his second century of the season, scoring 131 not out off 160 balls. Stewart Rhodes took 4 for 48. In reply Onslow were 152 for 3 with Rhodes having an enjoyable day getting an undefeated 68 from 123 balls.
Last year’s beaten two-day finalists North City scored 277-6 against bottom placed Upper Hutt, Michael Martin scoring 91 and Stu Mills 72. In reply Upper Hutt were in dire straits with the six dismissed batsmen scoring just five runs between them (Fraser Quaterman 4 for 7 off 7 overs). But a fighting 48 from Daniel van der Hayden saw them recover somewhat to 86 for 6 at the end of the day’s play.
Captain Kieran Lennon led the way with an unbeaten 88 as Hutt Districts reached 227 against Naenae Old Boys, Ronald Karaitiana taking 6-82 for Naenae. Naenae then reached 153-8 at stumps with opener Thomas Nukunuku scoring 51.
In the Dominion Post Senior competition, Clinton Butler took for 4 for 15 for Collegians to help dismiss leaders Johnsonville for 80.
In reply Collegians made 169, with Sam Outtrim taking 6-50 for Johnsonville. In their second innings Johnsonville were 66-3 at close of play and still 23 runs behind Collegians’ score.
Some spirited rearguard batting saved North City’s blushes against Wellington College, who at one stage had them teetering on 38 for 7, only for Norths to recover to declare 11 runs ahead of Wellington College’s score on 153 for 9.
Ben Turner and Hamish Bloomfield both scored 57 for Norths and also each took 3 wickets in Wellington College’s first innings of 142 (Tom Blundell 51). Wellington College were 30 for 1 in their second turn at bat at stumps.
Mark Hewson, Matthew Rose and Blair O’Brien all scored half centuries for Petone-Riverside in their score of 273 for 8 against University. The students were then 137 for 4 at stumps with Colin Owens top scoring with 68.
In the Senior Women’s competition, Taita made 106 with Megan Wakefield scoring an undefeated 50. Hannah Bedford had career best figures of 7-15 but Collegians could only make 40 in reply with Michelle Bunkall taking 5-14.