Stoke Nayland and ACOB in comfortable victories

Stoke Nayland maintained their unbeaten record in the NCA 110 over the competition while ACOB threatens as the major contender to the title.

WTTU v Stoke Nayland

It was not always plain sailing for Stoke Nayland but they eventually cruised to a comfortable victory over WTTU at Jubilee Park on Saturday.  Their batting stuttered and stumbled at the start but a dynamic whirlwind from the irrepressible Dylan Egington ensured a defendable total.  While wickets tumbled at the beginning of the innings the beleaguered Kurt Pahl maintained his composure to steady the ship.  Ricky Edwards displayed some nice touches in his composed knock but it was Egington who gave the innings real momentum.  He belted ten boundaries and a couple of big sixes in his run a ball inning that shifted the momentum to the visitors.

Tidy left arm spinner Sam Halsey was the pick of the WTTU bowlers as he displayed control and aggression in a couple of dangerous spells.  Mitchell Newport was lively with the new ball and Tom O’Neill also chimed in with two scalps. Although Mason Thelin and Daniel Endersby began the run chase with vigour there was not much mettle to the middle and lower order.  O’Neill followed up his two wickets with a handy 21 but there were no other efforts of any real substance as wickets fell regularly.  Darius Skeaping grabbed a couple but it was Tim O’Connor and Mark Mekalick who created most of the damage. They claimed eight wickets between them to ensure that WTTU were never really in the hunt for the two hundred plus target.

Stoke Nayland  202         Dylan Eginton 63, Ricky Edwards 42, Kurt Pahl 28, Tim O’Connor 23, Sam   Halsey 4/41, Mitchell Newport 3/31, Tom O’Neill 2/47

WTTU                   136         Mason Thelin 35, Daniel Endersby 23, Tom O’Neill 21, Mark Mekalick 4/27, Tim O’Connor 4/29, Darius Skeaping 2/32

Stoke Nayland won by 66 runs

Nelson College v ACOB

While Nelson College eked out a score which appeared defendable against ACOB at Ngawhatu a couple of very good innings made a mockery of such thoughts. For the schoolboys, Finn Restieaux looked in exquisite touch as he collected three boundaries and four sixes in a commanding knock.  The Raxworthy brothers both also looked in good touch but were both undone when they looked set.  College appeared to be establishing themselves for a big score, but too often poor shot selection led to their demise.  Left arm medium Sam Berkett was dangerous and the in-swinging Albie Murray chipped in with a couple of late wickets. A fine 109 run second wicket partnership between Greg Chitty and James Graham ensured that there were no palpitations for ACOB in the run chase.  Chitty, in particular, was severe on any wayward bowling from the College lads and Graham provided a more steadying influence. Solid contributions from all the following batsmen allowed ACOB to reach the total with 19 overs still to be bowled.

Nelson College 168         Finn Restieaux 57, Finn Raxworthy 27, Jonty Raxworthy 24, Sam Berkett 3/13, Albie Murray 2/33

ACOB                    172/5     Greg Chitty 65, James Graham 56, Will Bixley 2/29

ACOB won by 5 wickets

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND December 15: WTTU v Stoke Nayland at Jubilee, Nelson, New Zealand. Saturday 15 December 2018 (Photos by: Barry Whitnall Photography