Papakura got their new cricket season off to an inauspicious start, losing their two opening twenty20 matches at Bruce Pulman Park in Papakura last Saturday.

Pukekohe-Metro flogged them by eight wickets in the first match before Manukau rubbed salt in the wound with a comfortable 16-run win in the second.

Club captain Gavin Mudford said it certainly wasn't the start Papakura were looking for.

"But I think the team will be better off with those two matches under the belt," he said.

"There were certainly lessons from that match we can take into our one-dayer against Weymouth this Saturday.

"Our bowling let us down. We had trouble with line and length and were punished. Our general application wasn't there."

Karaka took the short trip home with a 50 per cent winning record on opening day.

Their initial assignment was a tough one.

Their bowlers contained a strong Manukau batting lineup to 133-6.

In reply they got to 98-7 with Sam Varcoe and Matt Wood both getting 20 next to their names.

The cold and windy conditions didn't abate after the reduced lunch break.

Karaka then batted first against Waiuku and put on 130 runs with David Pearce recording the first half-century for the club this season.

The Karaka bowlers made safe four championship points by dismissing Waiuku for 93. Stu Kett 2-15 and Hayden Wark 2-16 were the most effective of the Karaka bowlers.

Waiuku had a win and a loss as well. They had beaten Weymouth with two balls to spare before going down to Karaka.

Weymouth, like Papakura finished the day with two losses.

They were beaten by Waiuku and Pukekohe-Metro.

Pukekohe Metro and Manukau are shaping up as the teams to beat. Each won their two opening games comfortably.

Captain Kevin Farrell gave early indication of his form with an innings of 69 against Papakura and 25 against Weymouth.

Manukau newcomer Jonny Bassett-Graham made a statement by top scoring with 53 in the win over Karaka and 66 in the stroll over Papakura.

- © Fairfax NZ News