Cricket: Kaipara Flats prove too strong

Kaipara Flats captain Kevin Forde in action on Saturday during his side's win over Onerahi Central. Photo / Tania Whyte

The Kaipara Flats premier team furthered their Lion Red Cup standings stranglehold on Saturday, setting a commanding 10-147 against Onerahi Central at Kensington Park.

A dominant innings from Kaipara opener Ray Beamish produced the highest score of the first spell.

Beamish scored 36 runs before being dismissed by medium-pacer Callum Harnell.

A series of run-outs and low performances by the Kaipara top order lifted the morale of Onerahi's bowling attack.

However, a stifling seventh-wicket partnership between Matthew Taylor and Noel Roberts added much-needed runs to the scoreboard.

Taylor went on to score 27, while Roberts scored 29 before both were caught out near the end of the first innings.

Junaid Khan led the bowling for Onerahi, averaging three runs per over across 9.2 overs.

Callum Hornell also posed an imminent threat, bowling 4-44 from his nine overs.

Despite keeping Kaipara within arm's reach, Onerahi's woes at the crease withheld them from obtaining any real hope of chasing the needed target of 148 off their 50 overs.

The Kaipara bowlers, led by Matthew Taylor and Michael O'Flaherty, made quick work of Onerahi's batters, getting them all out for 82 after 24 overs.

In other matches at the weekend, Whangarei Boys' High School set a lofty total of 10-276 after a dominating 49.2 overs, to drown the hopes of City Cricket Prems attaining a second-innings comeback. City Cricket, which managed only 10-134 after 29.1 overs, were instead forced to pack their bags early after being outbowled, outfielded and ultimately outplayed.

Maungakaramea and Kamo also played at the weekend at the Kamo Recreation Ground.