Taylor carries the fight to the end

BY COLIN WILLIAMS

A brave and defiant 88 from Upper Hutt rising star Matt Taylor was not enough to take his side to first innings points against Petone in senior cricket on Sunday.

Resuming at 131/4 (and Taylor 20no), Upper Hutt fell 13 runs short of Petone's 225 after Taylor was the ninth batsman out, caught behind attempting an expansive drive.

A Wellington under-19 representative, Taylor has had an impressive first year in grade cricket.

He's averaging mid-30s with the bat and has taken 22 wickets with his medium-pacers to prove himself an up-and-coming all rounder.

Missing out on the first innings points put paid to any ambitions Upper Hutt held for a top two competition finish.

The game then played itself out to an entertaining outright win to Petone as Upper Hutt were charged with chasing down 179 in just 22 overs.

They gave it a good bash with their last wicket falling in the second-to-last over and Upper Hutt on 160.

Daniel van der Hayden was in the runs again.

The competition's top scorer backed up his first innings 50 with a hard hit 70 while Daniel Maatuis got going with 30.

In dismissing Petone for 167 in their second bid, Upper Hutt's best bowling came from Robert Kennedy (4 for 25) and Michael Billmore (3/30).

The side's last game is a two-dayer at Barton Rd against the leading Wellington Collegians outfit.

- Upper Hutt Leader