TPL – Marlborough Teams Flex their Muscles

The Dolphins and the Falcon s both had comfortable but contrasting victories in Round Nine of the TPL on Saturday.  In the remaining low scoring affair, Wakatu continued their recent resurgence.

WTTU v Falcons

The Falcons made very short work of an understrength WTTU at Jubilee Park in a match that only lasted 39 overs in total and was easily completed before the scheduled lunch break.  The home team had a number of front-line players unavailable and the replacements appeared to be somewhat out of their depth. Although the experienced Greg Hay did his best to hold the innings together wickets tumbled all too regularly at the other end.  Opening bowler Nick Weaver was dangerous at the top of the innings to begin the rout and Cameron Horton and Andrew McCaa picked up the treats through the middle and bottom of the order.

Skipper Matthew Stretch is making every post a winner this season and he seemed in a hurry to get home to Blenheim.  He bludgeoned 42 runs in boundaries to finish tantalizingly one short of a half-century.  He did not appear to be too phased by this however as the Falcons picked up valuable competition points.  Sam Field claimed a couple of wickets, but it was really a forlorn hope.

WTTU                                   67           Greg Hay 30, Nick Weaver 4/25, Cameron Horton 3/7, Andrew McCaa 2/4

Falcons                                 71/3       Matthew Stretch 49*, Sam Field 2/18     

Falcons won by 7 wickets

Wakatu v Nelson College

 While the stand out individual performance of the day came from Nelson College, it was not enough as they succumbed in their moderate run chase against Wakatu. An inspired spell of quick bowling from the tall Jarrod McKay wreaked havoc amongst the Wakatu batting at Victory Square.  With a second wicket partnership between Mason Robinson and Daniel Hooper ticking over fifty easily, things seemed serene.  Enter McKay and the total complexion of proceedings altered. He ripped out the middle of the innings, was rested and Wakatu countered with a solid ninth-wicket stand, then came back and finished things off.  He bowled fast with great rhythm and accuracy.  His final figures of 9.1 overs, 5 maidens and seven wickets for ten runs is the best return for the season.  McKay was backing up from a match-winning effort for the Nelson Pine Griffins last weekend and he is in outstanding form.  He was well supported by the leg spin of Finn Raxworthy and a better effort in the field from the schoolboys.

McKay’s efforts, however, were in vain as Nelson College’s batting woes continued against a solid and varied Wakatu bowling attack.  Opener Jonty Raxworthy looked very composed in his fluent little innings and Finn Restieaux displayed some nice touches in a couple of nice small innings but neither boxed on to complete the job.  The Wakatu bowlers all chipped in and while it was a bit touch and go in the end they won relatively easily as the tail fell away quickly.  Cody Golding started a little bit untidily but worked into his job and was well supported by Hunter Cavill, Campbell McLean and Ryan Hooper.  Nelson College had a few starts and will be disappointed that they did not do a bit better in this run chase.

Wakatu                                156         Daniel Hooper 50, Matthew O’Sullivan 32, Cody Golding 28, Jarrod McKay 7/10, Finn Raxworthy 2/23

Nelson College                 122         Jonty Raxworthy 27, Finn Restieaux 20, Cody Golding 3/23, Hunter Cavill 3/24, Campbell McLean 2/10, Ryan Hooper 2/28

Wakatu won by 34 runs

Stoke Nayland v Dolphins

A brutal and relentless assault by the visiting Dolphins allowed them to reach a mammoth total that a brave Stoke Nayland found beyond them at Marsden Rec.  After the loss of a couple relatively early, Josh Poole and Prabodha Arthavidu added 123 for the third wicket.  The pair displayed exquisite stroke play as well as immaculate timing as they toyed with the usually penetrative home attack.  Once Arthavidu was dismissed, Jerrym Lamb offered no respite as he too added a half-century at better than a run a ball.  At the other end Poole scored all around the wicket and his outstanding innings of 115 came off just 82 deliveries and included 13 boundaries and five big sixes.  Conditions at the Rec were extremely hot, and the small field was very parched and bumpy, but the batsmen consistently went over the field.  Dylan Eginton was the best of the bowlers but it was a tough day at the office for the Stoke Nayland defensive unit.

In their turn at bat, Stoke Nayland was not going to die wondering as Chris Dittmer immediately took the attack back to the Dolphins bowlers.  His 81 came off just 49 balls with 14 boundaries and two sixes.  Paddy Howes, Darius Skeaping, Ben Homan and Ricky Edwards all did their best to keep the score ticking over as they maintained the required run rate.  Unfortunately, the scoreboard pressure applied by the Dolphins meant that wickets kept falling at vital times as Poole completed an outstanding double by picking up three wickets, including the dangerous Dittmer.  This was a very good win by the Dolphins but Stoke Nayland will also take plenty out of their gutsy batting display.

Dolphins                              334/6     Josh Poole 115, Prabodha Arthavidu 68, Jerrym Lamb 57, Jack Holdaway 35*, Dylan Eginton 3/64

Stoke Nayland                  231         Chris Dittmer 81, Patrick Howes 28, Darius Skeaping 25, Ben Homan 22, Josh Poole 3/42, Corey Bovey 3/51, Prabodha Arthavidu2/34

Dolphins won by 103 runs

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 26: Stoke – Nayland v Dolphins on January 26 2019 in Nelson, New Zealand. (Photo by: Evan Barnes Shuttersport Limited)