Karori, Easts to lock horns in one-day final

There were no surprises in Wellington club cricket on Saturday as Karori and Eastern Suburbs cemented their positions as premier one-day finalists.

Karori and Easts are regarded as the top teams in the competition and in another chapter in a rapidly developing rivalry will square off for 50-over honours on January 25.

There is the additional carrot for the winner of qualifying for the national club championships.

Karori finished top, courtesy of its bonus point victory of 106 runs over Naenae Old Boys on Saturday.

Hamish Templeton continued his good form with 84, while skipper Simon Baker promoted himself to open and scored 64 in Karori's 273-8.

In reply, Naenae struggled to 167 all out, with Baker, Harry Wright and Lee Edwards picking up three wickets apiece.

Easts beat Hutt District by 31 runs, thanks largely to Scott Golder.

The former Wellington batsman belted 103 off just 78 balls, sharing in a 143-run partnership with David Holt (52 not out).

Easts' target of 253-6 proved a bridge too far for Hutt, despite good knocks from Fraser Colson (61) and Tim Robertson (57).

Bottom-placed University had a morale-boosting two-wicket win in a high-scoring thriller against Taita.

University's top-three of Nick Wanden, Colin Owens and Ben Orton all scored fifties as the students got home with three balls to spare.

Earlier, Ollie O'Leary had posted his maiden premier century, 113 from 105 balls, while Steve Gellatly added 54 in Taita's 301-6.

Fourth-placed Onslow beat third-placed North City by 26 runs in a minor upset. Firebird Stewart Rhodes hit 84 in Onslow's 243 while Michael Martin top-scored with 77 in Norths' reply of 217.

In the senior competition, Petone-Riverside will play Karori B in the final after both sides had comfortable victories.

Petone beat Upper Hutt by nine wickets, while James Hill (129) and Matt Atkin (6-30) starred for Karori B in a 151-run romp over Wellington College.

Norths B, who finished equal on points with Karori B but missed out on the final on run-rate, beat Johnsonville by 60 runs, thanks largely to Elliott Brookes' fine double of 70 and 5-33. Collegians beat Taita B by 40 runs.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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