Tight race for two-day club cricket title

Old Boys Collegians and St Albans are locked in a tight tussle for the Canterbury two-day premier grade club cricket championship entering the final round.

Less than a point separates the Hagley Oval-based clubs at the top of the table, while at least three other teams, Riccarton, Lancaster Park-Woolston and East-Shirley are also within striking distance if they can secure maximum points in the eighth round starting on Saturday.

In the final round OBC play last-placed Burnside-West University, while St Albans host Marist-Harewood, the second to bottom side.

LPW and East-Shirley both improved their standings by securing outright wins on Saturday at the expense of Saints and Marist-Harewood respectively.

The second day of the Sydenham-BWU match at Burnside Park was washed out, while the other three games all had late starts after rain late last week.

East-Shirley showed they were still an outside shot for the title, wrapping up a comfortable 79-run victory against Marist-Harewood at Redwood Park.

Pace bowler Matthew Teale grabbed a five-wicket bag to help East-Shirley claim a 71-run first innings lead against the home side, then the visitors whipped up a brisk 140 in just 31 overs, with Scott Pawson striking a fluent unbeaten 64.

East-Shirley set Marist-Harewood 212 to win in about 60 overs, but the inexperienced home lineup again could not handle the established East attack. This time it was the slower bowlers Tim Muir and Michael Peacock who did most damage, capturing the last six wickets between them after Teale and Jason Pawson made early inroads.

LPW also improved their position substantially toppling St Albans, after declarations ensured a second innings run chase.

LPW lost three wickets cheaply in challenging conditions at Garrick Park but were then aided by some friendly bowling as a target was encouraged. Shaun Coffey and Andrew Ellis took most advantage, adding 89 together, Coffey cashing in with 80 from 68 balls including 13 fours and a six.

The target was 168 in about 44 overs but Saints were set back by having most of their top order, Garth Dawson apart, ripped out and never recovered. Dawson was unluckily run out by a deflection on the stumps but the lower order then succumbed to the spin of Marty Kain and Nic Kyle, with the visitors finishing 63 runs in arrears.

Riccarton batted on against OBC when play resumed in mid-afternoon at Elmwood Park to try and get enough of a first innings lead to place pressure on the home side.

Riccarton finished 100 ahead with Carl Frauenstein carrying on from 107 not out to reach 122, while leg spinner Todd Astle completed a six-wicket bag.

OBC then had little option but to bat out time.

Provisional points after six rounds: OBC 70.31, St Albans 69.94, Riccarton 62.65, LPW 58.41, East-Shirley 58.11, Sydenham 57.01, Marist-Harewood 42.67, BWU 39.66.

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