Maungakaramea end WBHS' unbeaten start to Twenty20

Maungakaramea  closed up the Northland Cricket Association Premier grade club Twenty20 championship when they ended Whangarei Boys' High School's winning streak.
Players were treated to a pristine day at Kensington Park for the second weekend T20 matches, after Friday's downpour shifted Saturday's scheduled matches to yesterday, and to Kensington Park, instead of the rain-affected Kaipara Flats.
WBHS had stamped a mark early in the championship last weekend as the only team to nail two wins from two.
However, a polished Maungakaramea came out firing against the schoolboys in their initial  clash yesterday.
Batting first, Maungakaramea set a target of 142 with Brett Hood hitting a half century, Finlay Brooker racking up 28, and Joe O'Sullivan reaching 27.
Despite a hardy effort by Northern Districts under-19 squad member Todd Beehry who top scored with 31, WBHS fell short of the 142 by 28 when the numbers ran out.
James Merry's sharp bowling snatched two wickets for 22 for Maungakaramea.
"The boys missed a few key catches and James Merry put the brakes on in the middle of our batting order and we weren't able to catch up from there," Boys' High director of cricket Russell Smith said.
Maungakaramea's outstanding form continued with a second victory over Onerahi-Central after which they needed to win their last match of the day against Kamo to earn a final berth.
Finlay Brooker smashed 47 off 34 balls, while Craig Gurr hit 43 off 38 to help their team to a healthy total of 159-8.
Tim Southee  took three wickets for 18 during Onerahi's chase, restricting them to a total of 131-8.
WBHS hopes of making the final returned when they won their second game against Kaipara Flats, with a score of 173-4.
Richard Kaufman scored 52 while Vishaan Harypursat hit 46. In reply Kaipara only managed to amass 155-4.
Like Maungakaramea, the schoolboys needed to win their last match against City to secure a final berth but with victories over Kaipara Flats and Kamo earlier in the day along with a win last week, City also had a shot at making the final, making the game against WBHS a crunch match.
The Twenty20 final date and venue is to be confirmed.