Persistence paid off last night with six matches completed in a rain-affected opening round of the T20 Championship.
Premier Men’s T20 | Round One
Hibiscus Coast 83/5 lost to Takapuna 86/3 by seven wickets (DLS) – match reduced to 15 overs.
Takapuna got their T20 Championship defence off to the perfect start with a clinical win over Hibiscus Coast at Onewa Domain. After conceding a boundary from the first ball, the hosts kept a lid on the Hibiscus Coast top order. Ryan Quinn (2-7) led all wicket-takers as Takapuna kept the visitors to 83/5 (15 overs), despite Brad Norris’ unbeaten 23 off 16 balls.
Will O’Donnell and Ben Beecroft got Takapuna’s chase off to a breezy start before Hibiscus Coast grabbed three quick wickets. The finishing touches were left to Guy Harley (22*) as the Pirates crossed the line in 12th over.
East Coast Bays 109/4 (R Harrison 49*) defeated North Shore 95/8 (C Gaylard 3-17) by 14 runs – match reduced to 15 overs.
Ryan Harrison proved the difference for East Coast Bays against North Shore at Windsor Park. The all-rounder made 49 off 39 lifting Bays to 109/4 after rain reduced the match to 15 overs per side.
Caleb Gaylard (3-17) then knocked the top off the North Shore order, taking two wickets in the third over. The left-armer later bowled Shore skipper Michael Olsen (28) to all but settle a Bays victory. Harrison’s day wasn’t done adding a pair of wickets to his heroics with the bat, while Louis Delport finished with tidy figures of 2-10 from three overs.
Birkenhead 155/7 (A Christian 46, C Rajapaksha 30, P Kumar 3-17, W Amaradiwakara 3-26) defeated Kumeu 117/9 (M Amrut 34*, A Frew 5-22) by 38 runs.
The match between Birkenhead and Kumeu was the only one of eight to see a full 20 over per side match completed. Akash Christian (46) and Chamal Rajapaksha (30) provided the backbone for Birkenhead’s total of 155/7, while Pankaj Kumar (3-17) and Wishwaeh Amaradiwakara (3-26) kept Birkenhead from truly getting away.
Kumeu’s chase was stunted almost immediately by Angus Frew (5-22), who took two wickets in the first over and another two in the third. Mitt Amrut (34*) ensured the hosts got through to the end of the innings, but his efforts weren’t enough to stop Birkenhead claiming a comfortable 38-run win.
Ellerslie 74/8 lost to Auckland University 79/1 (A Prasad 44*) by nine wickets (DLS) – match reduced to 15 overs
Auckland University completed a routine victory over neighbours Ellerslie at Michaels Avenue, on the back of a superb team bowling performance. Ellerslie’s inning never got going losing four wickets in the opening five overs. It didn’t get any easier, finishing with 74/8 at the end of their 15 overs, with Vijay Anand and Ash Vodnala both finishing with two wickets apiece.
It was a different story for University, whose opening pair Aakash Prasad (44*) and Anand (25) wiped 66 off the chase before losing the first wicket. In the end, University claimed a first-up win with eight balls to spare.
Cornwall 90/5 (Ad Dhadwal 37) lost to Grafton 93/5 by five wickets (DLS) – match reduced to 13 overs.
Batting first, Cornwall were quick out of the blocks before rain took the players from the field. With the match reduced to 13 overs, Grafton hit back through Jack Dymond (2-18). Adithya Dhadwal (37) was the best of the Cornwall batsman as the hosts posted 90/5.
In reply, Dylan Taylor (27) gave Grafton the perfect start, hitting 4 fours and a six from the 9 deliveries he faced. It allowed the rest of the visitor’s line-up to take their time, claiming victory with ten balls and five wickets in the bank.
Howick Pakuranga 125/2 (D Young 70, B Walsh 31) lost to Papatoetoe 126/6 (L Istead 40) by four wickets – match reduced to 15 overs.
Howick Pakuranga’s Daniel Young continued his fine form at Lloyd Elsmore Park against Papatoetoe. After 15 overs, the hosts finished with 125/2 with Young (70), hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes from his 45 balls.
Though Taine Jolley nabbed both openers inside the powerplay, Luke Istead (40) broke the back of the chase with 6 fours and a six. Adam Jones and Harmeet Singh both took two wickets to slow Papatoetoe’s scoring, but Logan Clark (29*) remained in the fight to take his side through to a four-wicket win in the final over.
Eden Roskill vs. Parnell – match abandoned without a ball bowled.
Waitakere vs. Suburbs New Lynn – match abandoned without a ball bowled.
Round Two takes place next Wednesday.