Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club’s (HPCC) premier men have once again put themselves in a strong position for a first innings win in their final two-day match of the season.
After making the trip into Auckland City to play Grafton at Victoria Park, HPCC were asked to bat first.
Bill Walsh got the side off to a hot start, scoring 68 runs before being dismissed after 125 balls.
Walsh top-scored on a day for bowlers as Howick Pakuranga scrambled their way to a first innings total of 166.
As the Auckland sun began to set, the premier men had a chance to pick up some late wickets, and that they did.
Opening bowler Connah Thompson took three quick wickets with the help of leg spinner Harmeet Singh who also got one.
Grafton finished the day on 62/4, trailing by 104 runs with six wickets in hand.
With one day remaining in the season, Howick Pakuranga’s premier men will be looking to finish strong and force a result against Grafton.
In their final round robin game of the Prichard Cup limited over competition, the HPCC premier women (Llamas) fell just short of a win against Parnell.
Having lost the toss, HP’s premier women were asked to bat first in front of a home crowd.
Opener Radhika Patel (55 runs off 65 balls) and Skye Bowden (40 runs off 32 balls) were the two standouts with the bat.
Youngster Neena Woollaston also played an important role in the total, scoring 22 not out and helping the side through to 175.
Unfortunately, the Llamas’ total was not enough to hold off Parnell, despite some desperate heroics from spinner Ayaan Lambat.
Lambat kept Howick Pakuranga’s hopes alive, taking a five-wicket haul for 34 runs.
Josie Penfold and Amberly Parr also took a wicket each.
Auckland U19 batter Rishika Jaswal starred for Parnell, scoring 47 runs.
The premier women will face Auckland University for the 3rd and 4th place playoff for the competition on Saturday at Lloyd Elsmore Park.
The end of a season ravaged by Auckland’s adverse summer conditions and cheating club cricket out of multiple weeks of fixtures, is just one week away.
HPCC’s premier women, having already won the Pearl Dawson T20 championship, are strong favourites for being the club’s team of the year.
Premier Cricket Results
Premier Men Hedley Howarth Two-Day Competition | Round 7
Parnell against North Shore- Day one of two abandoned due to weather.
Eden Roskill 156 (S Desai 51; A Ashok 4-23) against Suburbs-New Lynn 87/3 (M Barry 48 not out; H Johal 2-8) after day one of two.
Auckland University against Papatoetoe- Day one of two abandoned due to weather.
Takapuna 236/8-declared (Q Sunde 55, G Harley 51; S Dixit 4-42) won first innings against Cornwall 52 (M Guptill-Bunce 22; M Jones 6-22) and 13/2 (L Patel 5 not out; W O’Donnell 1-2) after day one of two.
Premier Men Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition | Round 7
Howick Pakuranga 166 (B Walsh 68; S Gunawardane 3-35) against Grafton 62/4 (S Gunawardane 24 not out; C Thompson 3-18) after day one of two.
Kumeu 255/5 (A Christian 134 not out, R Jenner 46; S Edkins 2-40) against Ellerslie after day one of two.
Hibiscus Coast 216/8 (T Mcgladdery 83, U Ranaraja 60; P Fernando 2-25) against Birkenhead City after day one of two.
East Coast Bays 363/7-declared (R Harrison 75, L Watson 72; Q Downie 4-87) against Waitakere 116/7 (A Kaundal 36; C Groenink 2-22) after day one of two.
Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition | Round 10
Howick Pakuranga 175 (R Patel 55, S Bowden 40; C Beck 3-17) lost to Parnell 176/7 (R Jaswal 47; A Lambat 5-34) by three wickets.
Auckland University against Cornwall was abandoned due to rain.
Papatoetoe 166 (M Templeton 45; R McNeill 3-26) lost to Takapuna 170/6 (B James 73 not out; M Pearson 2-28) by four wickets.
Howick Pakuranga Cricket Club Upcoming Fixtures
Round 7, Day 2 Tom Hellaby Two-Day Competition- Howick Pakuranga Premier Men VS Grafton United CC Premier Men at Victoria Park- Saturday March 25, 11am.
Barfoot and Thompson Royal Oak Premier Women Prichard Cup Limited Over Competition 3rd & 4th playoff- Howick Pakuranga Premier Women VS Auckland University Premier Women at Lloyd Elsmore Park- Saturday March 25, 11am.
