Pukekohe Metro provided the sole success story in Spark Cup action over the weekend as they cruised to a 140-run win over Matamata.
Batting first Pukekohe made 270/8 off their 50 overs with a Thomas Parima century (129 off 116) and Matt Gardiner’s 61 providing the bulk of the scoring, after losing a couple of early wickets.
New recruit Parima has proven a real find over the first few weeks of the season.
The Pukekohe Metro opening duo of Reid Somani and Declan O’Brien both struck early to leave Matamata with a lot to do and Cameron Hardwick picked up three wickets to ensure the Waikato outfit didn’t get close.
Star University handed Papakura their first loss of the competition after posting 290/6 off their 50 overs at Bruce Pulman Park.
Papakura’s opening bowler Simerpreet Singh continued his good recent form with three wickets added to his season tally.
The home side was in trouble from the get-go in the run chase but the Dickson brothers (Corey and Hayden) gave Papakura a glimmer of hope. Corey made 75 while Hayden had a run-a-ball 38.
The challenge was too stiff however and Papakura succumbed in the 45th over.
Te Awamutu Sports racked up a mammoth 379/9 batting first against Karaka. Northern Knights all-rounder Jake Gibson smashed 106 for the Waikato Valley side.
Karaka needed something special in reply to even get close. They put up 286 all out with some strong performances coming from Counties Manukau captain Sam Varcoe (77), Dan Power (74) and Michael Schofield (46).
Sent in to bat by Cambridge, Manukau City faced up to the prospect of dealing with one of the fastest bowlers in the country in contracted Knights player Matthew Fisher. The 21-year-old Fisher had too much pace for the Manukau boys, completely ripping apart the top and tail of the order to finish with 6/30.
Manukau City were rolled for 82 and the southerners had little trouble chasing the small total down for the loss of just two wickets in the 13th over.
This week’s match of the round from the lower grades was an absolute cliff-hanger at War Memorial Park in Manurewa, where visitors Tuakau got home on the back of a valiant half century (his 2nd of the season) from Manpreet Singh.
Tuakau won the toss and inserted the Manukau boys on a pitch that was moving around a bit early on. The choice looked inspired as Manukau slumped to 23/4. Former CMCA age group reps Aaron Pyne and Kerwyn Oppert doing the damage with the early wickets. Oppert in particular was hard to deal with early doors.
The Manukau boys showed a lot of fight through the rest of the innings and 159 was always going to be a tough chase. The match see-sawed throughout the second innings and the tension mounted as the game came down to the wire.
Manukau threw everything at them but Tuakau, through Singh and their number 11 Blake Fryer, held firm and scraped passed the 159 need with one wicket to spare. A thrilling finish to a fantastic day’s cricket.
Karaka and Papakura also collected wins in Senior A Pool 1 action. In Pool 2 Manukau, United and Pukekohe Metro all had victories.
Glenbrook Maramarua edged Manukau Blue in a low scoring Senior B affair. Waiuku, Manukau Punjab Lions, Papakura Blue, Weymouth Eastern Kings and Tuakau also had wins.
Premier (Spark Regional Competition)
Star University CC 290/6 – 50 overs) beat Papakura CC (198/10 – 44.2 overs) by 92 runs.
Corey Dickson– 75(106), Hayden Dickson- 38(38)
Simerpreet Singh- 3/51
Te Awamutu Sports CC (379/9 – 50 overs) beat Karaka CC (286/10 – 39.1 overs) by 93 runs
Sam Varcoe- 77(56), Dan Power- 74(65), Michael Schofield- 46(28)
Unsure 2- 3/40, Navjot Sran- 2/47, Andrew MacKenzie- 2/70
Manukau CC (82/10 – 30.3 overs) lost to Cambridge CA (83/2 – 12.1 overs) by 8 wickets
Sandeep Patel- 28(58)
Ram Tirth- 2/7
Pukekohe-Metro CC (270/8 – 50 overs) beat Matamata (130/10 – 34.1 overs) by 140 runs.
Thomas Parima- 129(116), Matt Gardiner- 61(101)
Reid Somani-3/17, Declan O’Brien-3/26, Cameron Hardwick-3/35
Senior A – Manchester Shield
Pool 1
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Manukau Senior A Red 159/10 – Sandeep Singh 38(54), Amandeep Singh 34(19), Aaron Pyne 3/20 ; Kerwyn Oppert 3/48 lost to Tuakau Senior A 160/9 – Manpreet Singh 57* ; Tajinder Janagal 3/31 by one wicket.
Papakura Turf Raiders 116/10 beat Weymouth Mighty Kings 113/10 by three runs.
Pukekohe-Metro Green 146/10 lost to Karaka Senior A 147/2 by 8 wickets
Waiuku Senior A – BYE
Pool 2
Manukau Senior A Rising Caps 246/8 beat Papakura Heat 118/10 by 128 runs.
United Senior A 219/10 beat Weymouth Senior A 171/9 by 48 runs.
Pukekohe-Metro Gold 214/8 beat Manukau Fearless X1 by 24 runs.
Senior B
Manukau Blue 82/10 lost to Glenbrook/Maramarua 84/8 by 2 wickets.
Manukau Punjab Lions 169/10 beat Weymouth Senior B 125/9 by 44 runs.
Waiuku Senior B 153/9 beat Papakura White 154/5 by 5 wickets.
United Marauders 66/9 lost to Papakura Blue 69/5 by 5 wickets.
Tuakau Senior B 179/10 beat Pukekohe-Metro Senior B 152/10 by 27 runs.
Karaka Senior B 39/10 lost to Weymouth Eastern Kings 40/1 by 9 wickets.
T20
Clevedon T20 194/4 beat Manukau T20 Zoo 96/6 by 98 runs.
Weymouth Hardly Athletic 153/7 beat Manukau T20 Red 139/6 by 14 runs.
Mauku Senior T20 57/7 lost to Weymouth Grumpy Old Men 57/2 by 5 wickets.
United T20 Pirates 168/3 beat Pohutukawa Coastal Calamities 135/4 by 33 runs.
Karaka Mustangs -BYE
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