By Jim Allnat
The Marie Raos Ray White HPCC Premier Men had a real struggle on their hands against a determined University side in the first round of the Hedley Howarth Two Day championship.
University batted first and got off to a flying start on a wicket that gave the bowlers no assistance at all. In fact the score had passed 100 before the first wicket fell. Vijay Anand scored 86 off 82 balls and, after he was dismissed, Ash Vodnala held the innings together with 96. Matt Blandfield produced a career best with 3/41 off 15 overs and Adam Jones toiled away for 31 overs taking 4/112. When University was finally dismissed they had amassed 287.
The Alpacas openers Bill Walsh and Daniel Young had to face a difficult 11 overs at the end of the day but had no trouble adding 51 runs with Young having scored 34. In spite of such a difficult day in the field, the Alpacas are in a good situation needing 237 runs for a first innings win with all 10 wickets intact.
Other scores from Saturday:
Marie Raos Ray White Premier Reserves: 100 Ollie Blandford 20, Michael Greenwood 19 and 5/2
Takapuna 64 Greenwood 3/17, Keiren Mackenzie 4/4 and Rowan Naude 2/4
Howick Pakuranga Premier Women vs Takapuna
Takapuna 220/9 Skye Bowden 2/21, Amberley Parr 2/28, M. Sharma 3/32
Howick Pakuranga 65
