Batters struggle during wet weekend in Northland premier cricket grade

City batsman Craig Elliot going on to make his team's second highest score of 30 against Onerahi at Cobham Oval on Saturday. Photo / John Stone

The winter chill is already on its way and Northland's premier cricket batsmen are starting to feel its effects.

In a weekend disrupted by rain, teams battled in the penultimate round of the local two-day competition. Kaipara Flats sit top of the table after being the only team with two wins on the board ahead of Coalies Onerahi Central in second and Duracrete Products City in third.

With the winner decided by total points at the end of the season, Kaipara will want to continue their good form to finish top in this format after losing both the T20 and one-day finals to City and Kamo respectively.

Kaipara, at home on Bourne Dean Domain against Generation Homes Whangārei Boys' High School, struggled to build partnerships in difficult conditions on Saturday, declaring with the score at 198 for 9.

No 9 batsman Liam Jones was the top scorer for the home side, blasting 39 off 25 balls, including three 4s and two 6s with a strike rate of 156. Young WBHS leg-spinner Sam Webb was able to use the conditions to his advantage, picking up four wickets for 83 runs off his 20 overs.

In response, WBHS batted only 12.1 overs before the game was stopped with the score at 26 for 1, spinner Michael O'Flaherty taking the only wicket. When the game resumes, opening batters Webb and Luke Trigg will continue on 7 and 19 respectively.

City's story was much the same as they tried to overtake Onerahi on the table with a good performance at Cobham Oval on Saturday. With a strong downpour in the middle of the day, conditions weren't easy for either side as they looked for valuable points.

City opening batsman Stacey Hyndman was the shining light as they started with the bat, making 96 until he was bowled by off-spinner Sam Walker in the 43rd over with the score at 156 for 4.

Onerahi bowler Cullen Lowe sends down another ball under the watchful eye of the umpire at Cobham Oval. Photo / John Stone

The hosts had been cruising at 134 for 1 before they lost six wickets for just 25 runs. Walker proved the difference, taking four wickets for just 23 runs off his 19 overs. That was backed up by some tight bowling from Fletcher Coutts and Kirk Henderson, who took two wickets apiece, reducing City to 184 all out after 58.1 overs.

But the slower bowlers were also hard to get away for Onerahi and, having batted 28 overs, the visitors were left struggling at 81 for 5. City medium-pacer Pradeep Kumar took three wickets from his four overs, costing just five runs.

The batters had a tough day at Maungakaramea Domain where both Westech Automotive Maungakaramea and Kamo couldn't surpass triple figures in either innings on a wet and difficult pitch.

Batting first, the hosts were all out for 84, Bert Horner top-scoring with 23. Seventeen-year-old leg-spinner Billy Alexander-Crawford led the way for Kamo's bowling attack, taking five wickets for 28 runs.

In response, Kamo found play just as trying as they finished the day on 90 for 8 with Shane Burton making the only score of note with 40 not-out. Bowler Jack Cranage was impressive, bowling 19 consecutive overs and taking 6 for 24.

All teams will play the final day of the round next Saturday before they start the final round on March 23.