CRICKET - Rain-affected match drawn in spite of century by Wilson

NORTHERN Districts teammates Joe Yovich and Brad Wilson faced off in Whangarei club cricket on Saturday but despite their best efforts, the match between city and Kaipara Flats ended in a draw.
Brad Wilson has been struggling for runs for ND but in the match at Kensington Park his score of 119 proved to be the difference between the two teams.
His innings wasn't chanceless, but when you are struggling with your form, lady luck can prove to be a wonderful ally.
City won the toss and put Kaipara into bat. Good bowling by openers Parry Spick and Yovich had Kaipara in early strife at 30/4 but Wilson remained a thorn in their side and he began to prosper, scoring 12 fours and one six on his way to reaching his century.
City's failure to claim Wilson's wicket saw the innings become the basis of a good, but reachable total of 224/9, in the rain-affected two-day match.
The home side didn't get the start they were after however with Brad Chard out early. That brought Yovich to the wicket and with some big hitting, including a six and six boundaries, anything looked possible. Yovich ended up scoring 71, before he was caught by Ben Thomson off the bowling of Jake Phillips.
Unfortunately for City, wickets kept falling steadily at the other end and with the possible exception of Bert Horner, who was run out on 34, none of the top order were able to help Yovich in the run chase.
Kaipara closed in for the kill but City were able to ride out the rest of their allotted overs thanks to a good knock by Jamie Matthews, who was 21 not out at the end of play.
The match was one of the highlights of the first completed Saturday of cricket for three weeks after rain had played havoc with the competition's pre-Christmas programme.
Maungakaramea were probably hoping for rain in the other premier division one match as they were embarrassed at home by a plucky Whangarei Boys High School side.
Maungakaramea were without Northland captain Ben Cochrane but apart from that fielded a capable team - but the that stand-in captain James Merry said put in a "dreadful" performance on the day.
Boys High won the toss and batted and Joseph O'Sullivan quickly showed he knew his way around the Maungakaramea Domain. O'Sullivan, who played his junior cricket at the club, scored freely before being dismissed by Ryan Mills for 53.
Jamie Lee then picked up where O'Sullivan left off, smacking three sixes and five fours before being stumped by Brendon Child off the bowling of Merry for 54.
The two innings laid the groundwork for a total of 238/9 in 54 overs, which Maungakaramea set about chasing with great gusto, but little luck. Murray Child was the only player to get a score, with a patient 50, but it was the bowlers who prospered.
Boys High captain Rory Darkins took 4/42 including Child's wicket, while recent Northland recruit Josh Matthews took 3/27 as they dismissed Maungakaramea for 123. Apart from being outplayed on the pitch, Merry was incredulous that his side hadn't gone for the draw when the win seemed out of the question.
"It was almost like the guys forgot it was a two-day game and felt like they had to push the pace, when they could have pushed the ball around a bit more and maybe held on for the points," he said.
In the premier grade second division, both matches turned out to be one-sided affairs.
A ten-man Kamo beat a nine-man Bledisloe, after Kamo's Chris Page had smacked a rapid fire 63 and opener Rhys Farrand had again impressed with 41, giving Bledisloe a total of 202 to chase.
Bledisloe were not on their game at Tikipunga Park and slumped to 47 all out, with opening bowler Jamie Kay doing most of the damage, finishing with a five-wicket bag.
Onerahi put on 199 against Boys High School second XI and dispatched them for just 68. Harry Darkins took four wickets, with Kurt Wilson and Brendon McLeod taking three apiece.