CRICKET - Unstoppable City just too strong

CITY continued their domination of the Whangarei Club Cricket this season with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Kaipara in the two-day final yesterday.
The side put in a good all-round team performance to win the match, but there were a number of memorable individual performances that helped steer them home against the spirited young Kaipara side.
Medium-pacer Kurt Wilson took five wickets in the first innings, but the Kaipara batsmen were responsible for falling on their own sword to a large degree, often playing the wrong shots on a good batting surface at Cobham Oval, to be all out for just 142.
A gritty partnership between Darron Goodwin (74) and Andy Pratt (55) dug City out of trouble in their first innings after some very tight Kaipara bowling had them staring at a first innings deficit at 70/7.
The last recognised batsmen did the job for the side and helped them survive until the following morning, to reach 206 all out and a first innings lead of 64.
The deficit meant Kaipara had to force the pace and rattle up a quick score to chase if they were to win. For a while, with Brad Wilson (52) and Kyron Dill (26) scoring freely, it looked a possibility.
With their seamers beginning to tire, City turned to spinner Tim Anderson. After getting some early stick, Anderson began to bowl beautifully and finished Kaipara off once and for all.
He finished with the match's best bowling figures of 7/52 _ and added to his 3/37 in the first innings.
It was a man-of-the-match performance.
Set a score of 89 to win, Brad Chard was obviously in a hurry to begin the celebrations, scoring a rapid 51 as City reached the total with just three wickets down.
City now can add the two-day title to their one-day crown and their next aim is to capture the Northern Districts one-day title and represent ND at the national club finals at Cornwall Park in April.
If City completed their win with plenty of overs to spare, Onerahi-Central left it until the last moment to finally beat Kamo in the division two final.
Set a total of 113 to win in just 19 overs, Onerahi reached 115 with just two balls to spare, thanks to some big-hitting by Stephen John. John hit four sixes and three fours to reach 59 not out, from just 30 balls, just as the heavens began to open at Kensington Park.
Kamo professional Qasim Shiekh had got his side off to a good start in the match on Saturday with an attractive 134. Kamo, who needed an outright win to earn the title, looked to have the upper hand at the end of the first day, with Onerahi struggling to avoid the follow-on at 65/5.
Kelvin Johannson (69no) and Harry Darkins (59no) and some poor Kamo fielding got Onerahi out of trouble the next morning, and the side ended their innings at 209.
Kamo lost too many quick wickets trying to set Onerahi a total to chase and in the end it wasn't enough to avoid defeat at the hands of John.
City took another title in the division three final with a comfortable win six-wicket win over City-Pompellier, while Dargaville took home the division four title with a win in a limited over match over Whangarei Boys' High School's third XI on Saturday.