Woodleigh has historic cricket double chance
BY GLENN MCLEAN
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The seven-season reign of New Plymouth Old Boys as Taranaki premier two-day cricket champions is over after it was knocked out in the semifinal at the weekend by Woodleigh.
Woodleigh, who won the premier one-day competition earlier this season, now has a chance at an historic double when it meets top qualifier Inglewood in this weekend's final at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.
Batting first at Western Park, Woodleigh posted a respectable 199 in its first innings, with a number of batsmen getting starts without going on to post a large score.
Old Boys looked to be chasing the first innings target comfortably at stumps on Saturday after it got through to 125-3. Things changed rapidly yesterday morning, however, with the defending champions being bowled out 11 runs short of Woodleigh's total.
Taranaki left arm spinner Andrew Mason, who also scored 40 in his side's first innings, managed to tie down the Old Boys batsmen for long periods, at the same time taking 3-46.
The first innings advantage was all Woodleigh needed to progress to the final and its batsmen dug in for the day, batting 70 overs on a flat pitch, before losing its final wicket on 197.
Allrounder David Collingwood scored 49, the same total as Phil Barraclough, while veteran batsman David Simpson managed 34.
Woodleigh's common sense approach left Old Boys the near impossible task of scoring 208 off 14 overs for outright victory.
It never died wondering, getting through to 131-6 from 13 overs before stumps were pulled as Taranaki allrounder Jamie Watkins led the way with 64.
The remaining match between Inglewood and Hawera United threatened to get out of control, with two Hawera players sinbinned.
Batting first, Hawera was bowled out for 109, with opener Nick Walker carrying his bat through the innings to be left stranded on 49 not out. The total could have been a lot worse for Hawera had Walker and No 11 batsman Steve Batchelor not put on 32 for the last wicket.
Despite losing three early wickets, Inglewood found the total far from imposing, eventually being bowled out for 192.
Hawera's hopes of being able to set a total for the home side to chase ended near the close of play on Saturday after it slumped to 20-4 at stumps, with batsman Mark Cleaver sinbinned for questioning an umpire's decision.
If Hawera thought things could not get any worse, it was wrong.
First, Mark Parsons was sent from the field by umpire Brian Hardgrave, then it slumped to 45-8, with neither of its suspended batsmen eligible to return to the crease in time.
Unfortunately for Hawera, the matter is unlikely to end there, with the Taranaki Cricket Association set to investigate the behaviour of several of its players.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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