TPL Round 4 preview

Round 4 TPL

The TPL moves into Round Four on Saturday with two games in Nelson and one in Blenheim.

 Playing though Nelson champions Stoke Nayland did not travel well last week and they make the trek over the Whagamoa’s again, this time taking on the Falcons. They will be keen to get their campaign back on track after getting something of a touch up last weekend from the unbeaten Dolphins.  While Marlborough skipper Matthew Stretch took four wickets for the Falcons their batting let them down.  They will be hoping for a more consistent effort throughout the order this week.  Stoke Nayland will hope to bounce back after their glitch and look to the older heads like Kurt Pahl to offer more support to the consistent Chris Dittmer with the bat.  Their well balanced bowling attack has not really been mastered yet and Stoke Nayland will be the favourites in this fixture.

In the game transferred from Jubilee Park to Ngawhatu both WTTU and Nelson College will be hoping to back up after good victories last week.  For the schoolboys, ginger headed Finn Restieaux looked very composed in compiling the first and only half century in the competition and will be expected to build on that performance.  The Nelson Pine Griffins captain Mason Thelin showed great touch in the representative fixture on Sunday and likewise will expect to reap the benefits of his time at the crease.  He looked in good touch and WTTU’s bowling attack seem ready to fire.

The match up the round sees the front running Dolphins challenging ACOB at Botanics.  The visitors are unbeaten and the only team to have won two matches to date so will fancy their chances.  Prabodha Arthadivu played some exquisite shots in his outstanding century in the Newman Shield challenge on Sunday so the home team will need to keep him in check.  While ACOB have not had a victory yet, rain deprived them in their last outing and they will be anticipating getting on the board.  The Zohrab twins are in good nick with bat and ball and have been working hard and they will also welcome the return of feisty all-rounder BJ Barnett.

Wakatu will be pleased to have the bye so they can lick their wounds and regroup.  Two good games in town on Saturday and worth getting out for the 11:30 am starts.

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND – TPL Cricket – Nelson College v Wakatu. Ngawhatu Park, Richmond, New Zealand. Saturday 3 November 2018. (Photo by Chris Symes/Shuttersport Limited)