TPL Round 1 – Runs at a Premium

It was a low scoring beginning to the season as both Marlborough teams and defending champions Stoke Nayland claimed decisive victories as the Tasman Premier League (TPL) kicked off on Saturday. Two of the three fixtures provided emphatic victories with only the ACOB/ Marlborough Falcons match providing any really competitive action.

ACOB v Falcons

ACOB captain Ben Gully may have rued the decision to bat on a slow and sticky Horton Park pitch in Blenheim when he won the toss.  While the total of 124 was the highest first innings total on the day it was still not quite enough to defend against a gritty Falcons unit.  To a degree, the visitors were the architects of their own demise as three of the dismissals were the results of run outs and another two players holed out to high full tosses.  Only Grey Chitty displayed the necessary perseverance as he displayed his talented array of batting skills in a pugnacious knock.  James Graham offered ACOB hope at the beginning of the day in a tidy effort. In the tight encounter, Matthew Stretch was the difference between the two teams.  First, he claimed four wickets with the ball for the Falcons and backed it up with a mature inning of 44 in the run chase. He showed a wide array of shots as he skillfully negotiated the conditions.  He was well supported by Andrew McCaa as the pair broke the back of the run chase.  Once again ACOB did not help themselves by shelving four catchable chances. Sunny Dhaliwal made early inroads with the ball and the metronomic Thomas Zohrab looked dangerous but they were probably 40 runs shy of a defendable target.

ACOB                    124         Greg Chitty 41, Matt Stretch 4/19

Falcons                 125/7     Matthew Stretch 44, Andrew McCaa 34, Sunny Dhaliwal 2/29, Thomas Zohrab 2/29

Falcons won by 3 wickets

Full scorecard. https://www.crichq.com/matches/679657/1st_innings

Wakatu v Dolphins

Wakatu were meanwhile embarrassed by Marlborough Dolphins on the adjoining Horton Park ground.  An inept batting display resulted in the dismal total of just 42.  While spinner Josh Poole and medium pacer Ben Blackman certainly exploited the conditions superbly there can be few excuses for such a paltry score. They were also well supported in the field.  Wakatu, however, could not produce a solitary boundary in their effort, no batsman scored double figures and the total was inflated by 18 extras. The only positive for Wakatu was probably that the pummelling did not carry on for long.  The Dolphins completed the ignominy by effortlessly knocking off the total in just the twelfth over.

Wakatu                42           Ben Blackman3/8, Josh Poole 3/4

Dolphins              43/1

Full scorecard. https://www.crichq.com/matches/679565/1st_innings

WTTU v Stoke Nayland

A combination of accurate bowling and somewhat irrational shot selection led to the early demise of the WTTU batsmen at the Marsden Rec. Instead they were largely undone by the unrelenting pressure applied by the Stoke/Nayland medium pace attack and a lack of fortitude and patience by their batsmen. While Ili Tugaga made early inroads and claimed the first three wickets to fall it was evergreen Dylan Eginton who picked up the cherries at the end of the innings to finish with a well-deserved five-wicket haul to complete proceedings. They were well supported behind the stumps by debutant James Barron who completed a tidy day with a couple of comfortable catches. Joey O’Connor displayed some resistance at the top of the order while Tom Cross was softened up by a blow to the midriff and finished off by offering a simple catch to mid-off as he failed to find the sweet spot. In the run chase flamboyant veteran Kurt Pahl provided the early fireworks including a huge six deposited into the nearby church.  His opening partner Chris Dittmer took a more conservative approach as he safely negotiated the triple threats of O’Connor, Sam Baxendine and Josh Newport to remain undefeated.  Newport gave Stoke/Nayland a scare, but only a very small one as they easily negotiated the target for the loss of just three wickets in the eleventh over.

WTTU                                    61           Dylan Egington 5/14, Ili Tugaga 3/18

Stoke Nayland                   63/3       Chris Dittmer 22*, Josh Newport 2/34

Stoke Nayland won by seven wickets

Full scorecard. https://www.crichq.com/matches/679711/1st_innings

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 20: Stoke/Nayland v Waimea Toi Toi Marsden Rec on October 20 2018 in Nelson, New Zealand. (Photo by: Evan Barnes Shuttersport Limited)