Jesse Ryder took charge of the chase. MBUTCHER

Texans riding high again

Posted Friday, 5 April, 2019 in Match Reports

NZCT National Club Cricket Championship 2019

Cornwall Cricket Club, Auckland

2-7 April 2019

ROUND FOUR

Napier Technical Old Boys defeated Parnell by four wickets

After having dropped a match for the first time at the 2019 Club Nationals in the previous round, defending champions Napier Tech Old Boys bit back hard with an emphatic four-wicket win over Auckland’s Parnell, who are now destined for the minor playoffs.

Opting to bat first proved of little advantage to Brad Rodden as his "Peaches" were pipped, rolled for just 92 in 30.3 overs — and with only the top three batsmen reaching double figures.

For the Texans, the roll start with Todd Watson and Kieran Noema-Barnett dislodging both opening batsmen caught behind, a promising start from the Aucklanders suddenly becoming 48 for one, then 52 for two. And so it went on, wickets falling too regularly.

Jayden Lennox (above) then mopped up in spectacular style. He struck twice in the space of three balls in the 28th over, then delivered the same again in the 30th to net a five-wicket bag with the figures of the tournament: 5-11, including two maidens, off 5.3 overs.

Parnell had little hope of defending such a low tally, but the Texans didn’t make it easy on themselves, either. Josh Fisher (below) sent both opening batsmen back LBW in his first two overs to have them off to a stuttery start at 17 for two.

When he got Izaiah Lange caught on 12 a few overs down the track, and then the big wicket of Noema-Barnett caught for a two-ball duck, the alarm sounded that NTOB needed to take care.

Just one partnership was needed to do the job and Bronson Meehan (above) combined with Jesse Ryder to put on 44 for the fifth wicket, before Meehan was caught off Anikhet Parikh on 28.

But at 86 for five, the job was now nearly over.

Ryder (30 off 29) also departed just before the completion of the run chase when he was caught and bowled by Nikith Perera, handing Todd Watson (below) the honour of smashng the winning boundary.

The four-wicket would not be enough to push the Texans back to the top of the table, with St Albans going in to remain unbeaten after four rounds on the adjacent ground. But it was a valuable win with one round to come, putting them back in the frame to make the 1v2 Final on Sunday for a title defence — Green Island meanwhile having been beaten again.

Round 5
10am | Saturday 6 April 2019