Emotion aplenty as Aaron cashes in

With his mother in his heart and his father watching on the sideline, Aaron McCash scored one of club cricket's more emotional centuries on Saturday.

The North City opener rattled up 151 in a one-day match against University at Kelburn Park and the celebration that followed gave grown men goosebumps.

McCash's mother, Susan, died two years ago after a three-year battle with cancer, so instead of looking around each Saturday and seeing her knitting on the sideline, he now just sees dad John pacing up and down.

Throw in the fact that it was McCash's maiden Pearce Cup hundred – a sizeable one at that – and you can understand why he indulged in quite some celebration.

"There was a bit of emotion there, I hope I don't get cited for over-celebration," the 24-year-old said. "First of all getting to 100 was a big thing for me. I've been close before but I've got out in the 90s.

"Also my old man was there and last year was a tough one for the family, so it's always good to see him there supporting.

"He loves his cricket and comes down to watch me bat. It was cool to score some runs in front of Dad. He gets pretty nervous when I bat, more nervous than I do."

John McCash went home on Saturday night with a wagon wheel of his son's innings, which comprised 140 balls and included one six and a swag of fours.

North City posted 337-3, with the best batting coming for the second wicket when McCash was knocking the ball into gaps and Michael Pollard was putting the students to the sword with a rapid 81.

At one stage it appeared McCash could bat through the innings but he was stumped on 151 looking for another boundary.

"I was pretty happy with my innings," McCash said. "Sometimes I bat a long time but I'm a little slow. This time I was scoring at better than a run a ball."

McCash is not preoccupied with selection in higher teams this season. He had one outing for Wellington A last season and would welcome more, but his primary goal is to help North City win the Pearce Cup.

They are two from four in one-day games this season after belting University by 114 runs on Saturday.

Sharing the glory at the North City clubrooms on Saturday evening was paceman Elliott Brookes, who took a hat-trick for the club's second team which prevailed over Wellington College in the Hazlett Trophy.

Club players appreciated their first run on grass, no team more than Eastern Suburbs who beat Naenae Old Boys by nine wickets thanks to another strong bowling performance by tall seamer Josh Stuart.

He took 3-24 as Naenae were bundled out for 128 and Easts cantered home with 28.2 overs to spare, with Jeremy Dean 79 not out.

In the other Pearce Cup matches, Hutt snuck past Onslow and Karori breezed past Taita.

If Stuart has been the form man with the ball, then Karori's Stephen Murdoch is the form man with the bat. He made 98 before being caught on the boundary looking to bring up his second ton of the season in style.

Besides Brookes' hat-trick in the Hazlett Trophy it was business as usual with the rich getting richer – Johnsonville and Karori – and the poor losing touch – Taita and Collegians.

- © Fairfax NZ News