Sturt took 7 for 20 off 6.4 overs to help shoot out Naenae Old Boys for just 72 and Pepper with 3 for 18 then ripped the heart out of Naenae’s top order a second time to have Naenae reeling at 41 for 4 and still 53 runs short of making Taita bat again.
Naenae won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that quickly backfired on them as they lost five wickets for 21 runs to be all out for 72, Sturt taking the best figures of any bowler on a day when ball dominated bat in both the Dominion Post Premier and Senior competitions.
Taita then made 166, with Naenae bowlers Michael Cornish and Robbie Bird getting four wickets each, but Naenae were struggling a second time at the crease and will need a sizable middle order recovery to stave off defeat.
With just three competition points separating the leading three Premier teams Karori, Taita and Eastern Surburbs, leading Hutt Valley contender Taita will be eager to wrap up Naenae’s last six wickets and complete a likely outright win early on this weekend’s last day’s play of the regular season.
Seven-time defending champions Easts and Karori are both locked in much closer matches against Upper Hutt and Hutt District respectively and will be working overtime in the practice nets this week to try and pip the other for a final berth.
Competition leaders Karori dismissed Hutt District for 108, thanks to Lee Edwards, Sunnie Chan and Brad Mahar all getting three wickets, but they were then dismissed for 118 with Tim Robertson taking 4 for 30. Hutt were 10 without loss at the close of play, with scores all square going into the second day.
Easts made 160 against bottom placed Upper Hutt with Anthony Weir taking 7 for 49. They then dismissed Upper Hutt for 147 with Steve Spoljaric taking 5 for 55. Easts were 31-0 in its second innings, a lead of 47 at stumps.
Elsewhere, Onslow and North City are locked in a tight tussle. Onslow made 191 against North City, with Michael Hayward taking 5 for 60. Norths made 205 in its first innings, Joe Austin-Smellie scoring 71 and Stewart Rhodes taking 6 for 49.
In the Dominion Post Senior competition, Johnsonville clinch top spot for the final after gaining the upper hand against relegation threatened Wainuiomata, with second placed University in the best position to join Johnsonville ahead of other contenders Taita and Wellington College.
Wainui made 100 in its first innings and then dismissed Johnsonville for 179. Brad Kennedy taking 5 for 40. However Wainui were 74 for 4 at the close, a deficit still of five runs with six second innings in hand.
University had the better against city neighbours Collegians. Collegians were dismissed for 136 with Graham Murray getting 5 for 32. In reply University were all out for 206 and lead by 70 on first innings heading into the final day.
Third placed Taita made 170 against North City with Brad Kropp getting 5 for 57. Norths were then dismissed for 176. Russell Kyne scored 71 and Liam Wealleans took 5 for 44.
Petone-Riverside made 151 against Wellington College. Mike Goldsbury made an unbeaten 59 and Tom Gibson took 5 for 43. College at the close of play was 177 for 3 with Gibson enjoying a good all round day getting 65.
The Dominion Post Premier and Senior finals are both played at the Petone Recreation Ground the following weekend.