Evans the star as Onslow punished

BY SAM WORTHINGTON

Eastern Suburbs and Danny Evans were the big winners from the opening Pearce Cup two-day round.

Eight-time defending champions Easts opened up a 14-point lead over second-placed Karori with a massive innings and 118-run thrashing of Onslow on Saturday.

Easts' English import, fast bowler Danny Evans, took 8-24 as Onslow were skittled for 63 in their second innings.

That at least was an improvement on their first innings of 59.

Scott Golder made the only significant score of the match, smashing 103 not out off 81 balls as Easts declared at 240-8 before Evans completed the rout.

"I got a wicket first over, got a wicket in my second and third overs, it was just one of those days where everything seemed to go right," Evans said.

A 22-year-old Middlesex and former England under-19 quick, Evans has taken 38 wickets from 15 first-class matches and decided to come to New Zealand after an injury-plagued 2008-09 season.

"It was an ideal opportunity to go away, play some cricket and finally get some nice weather as well."

Easts' home at Kilbirnie Park is a far cry from Middlesex's base at Lord's, but Evans is happy with his new surroundings.

"Playing at Lord's is a dream, but club cricket is where it's all started, so cricket's a funny game. It's a good leveller, so you learn not to take things for granted."

The 1.96m Evans hopes to break back into the Middlesex first XI and eventually play for England, but he will have to vie with new signing Iain O'Brien.

"It's a great signing that. I just hope he doesn't take my spot, I'll be a bit cheesed off if he does. I've met him, he seems a really good bloke and he's obviously a very good bowler."

Elsewhere, Naenae Old Boys (380-9) took first innings points against bottom-placed University (192). Naenae's Adam Williams plundered 151 not out, with Shane Battock adding 75. Colin Owens compiled 79 for the students.

Hutt District (219) and Taita (114-5) were washed out, while Karori (267-7) met North City (8-1) before the rain came.

In the Hazlett Trophy, Collegians (98 and 117) beat Johnsonville (48 and 163) by four runs in a low-scoring thriller. Left-armer Julian Brown finished with 10-50 for the match, while Clinton Butler took 5-19 in Johnsonville's first innings.

Left-arm spinner Sam Outtrim was Johnsonville's best bowler with 6-47.

Petone-Riverside (208-9) could not finish off Wellington College (72 and 193-9), with Luke Scully hitting 88.

Upper Hutt (268-9) batted all day against Taita B, Daniel van der Hayden top scoring with 60 and Matt Lewer claiming 5-68.

The second day will be played on January 17.

Karori B posted a first innings lead of 71 over Norths B, but Norths reached 118-2 in their second turn at bat.

In the women's competition, Collegians defaulted to Johnsonville, and Onslow defeated Hutt by seven wickets.

- © Fairfax NZ News