Gus Borren … scored 48 in Rathkeale’s win over Carterton. PHOTO/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Defending champions Rathkeale had to work hard to beat Carterton in the second round of the Umpires Cup at Rathkeale on Saturday.
Set 174 to win off their 40 overs, the students took until the last over to overcome a Carterton side who were playing their first match in Wairarapa Cricket’s premier one-day championship.
A last wicket unbeaten partnership of 45 off six overs by Adrian Blomfield [62no] and Ethan Pinfold [9no] gave Carterton a useful target to defend. Tim Griffith was the next best of the batsmen with 37.
Ralph McLeod led the way for the Rathkeale attack, taking four wickets for 26 runs off his eight overs.
An 88-run second wicket partnership between opener Jake Jonas [53] and Gus Borren [48] set a good platform for Rathkeale, and although the students lost regular wickets, they were always in control of the run chase and scored the winning runs with four balls to spare.
Jarrod Woods caused the Rathkeale batsmen a few jitters taking 4-37 off seven overs.
Last year’s beaten finalists Red Star crashed to an embarrassing seven-wicket loss to Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown.
Batting first on the Park Sports Ground No 3 artificial, Red Star were rolled for 60 in 19.2 overs. Scott Neilson, with 5-15, and Kirk Saunders, with 3-13, did the damage with the ball.
Greytown cruised to victory in the ninth over with opener Hayden Ray leading the way with an unbeaten 41 off 30 balls.
Results
Carterton 173-9 [Adrian Blomfield 62no, Tim Griffith 48; Ralph McLeod 4-26] lost to Rathkeale 175-5 [Jake Jonas 53, Gus Borren 48; Jarrod Woods 4-37] by five wickets
Red Star 60 [Scott Neilson 5-15, Kirk Saunders 3-13] lost to Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown 64-3 [Hayden Ray 41no] by seven wickets.
Auto Imports Masterton Marist won by default from Lansdowne.
Byes: Pope and Gray Greytown, and Unreal Grass Masterton Marist.
Points after two rounds: Auto Imports Masterton Marist 6, Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown 6, Rathkeale 6; Carterton 2, Pope and Gray Greytown 2, Unreal Grass Masterton Marist 2, Red Star 2; Lansdowne minus 2.