Maungakaramea use green top to advantage

Maungakaramea dominated a one-sided affair at Cobham Oval on Saturday against City on a "very green" wicket.
After winning the crucial toss, Maungakaramea surprised no one by choosing to bowl first in the second round of the Northland premier grade competition.
City skipper Bert Horner said losing the toss essentially cost them the match.
"It was a bit one-sided. Maungakaramea had Michael Parlane and Tim Southee playing for them, so it made life a bit tougher. We lost the toss and the very green wicket suited the likes of Southee.
"The outfield was also very slow, which didn't help things, but that's no excuse," he said.
The City batting line-up was bolstered with the return of allrounder Joey Yovich, who hit 27 to help the side to 134, before they were all out in just 41.2 overs. Yovich's lofted drives found empty spaces but died on the sandy turf, costing him a few boundaries and the chance to put the bowlers on the back foot.
John Child had a good day with the ball on his return from injury, taking three wickets for 19 runs in his 10 overs, while Tim Southee snatched 2-23  and brother Mark took 2-38.
Dean Child (12) and Finley Brooker (26) opened the batting for Maungakaramea's successful chase and were followed by Parlane, who smashed 45 and Brett Hood who made 37 - both not out at the end of 30.5 overs when they won the game with a total of 2-137 - making it two from two one-day  wins this season.
 Similarly, Onerahi Central went up against the odds playing Whangarei Boys' High, who bowled first on another seaming wicket at Kensington Park.
Onerahi's opening batsman Andy McDowell had an incredible innings, to remain to carry his bat through the innings to be the only man left standing after 31 overs with just 11 runs to his name, while the rest of the team fell with a handful of runs. Twenty-seven extras bolstered their score to 79, all out.
Onerahi player-coach Garth Anderson said the pitch had made it hard work for his side.
"There was a lot of movement up front and it was a seaming wicket. Only making 79 in 31 overs - it was a very low scoring game - basically  Boys' High bowlers Richard Kaufman and Vishaan Harypursat had a field day with the ball, taking 5-14 in 8.3 overs and 7-12 in 7 overs respectively."
Onerahi had plenty of work to do in the nets this week before facing Kamo this weekend to get back on track for the season, following their two one-day losses, Anderson said.
The schoolboys, meanwhile, continued their season's winning streak, making 4-80 in 38 overs, with Rory Darkins (31) and Ben Hyde (33) the top scorers.
Jamie Burgess had the best figures for the Onerahi bowlers, taking 2-13 in his 8 overs.
At Kaipara Flats, the hosts lost the toss to Kamo, who batted first on the artificial pitch as the grass wickets are still too damp to play on.
Skipper Jamie Millar opened the batting with a modest 30 before he was bowled by Gordon Penney No2 batsman Luke Russell was out for 1. Dean Williams stabilised the side, smacking an impressive 61 followed by No5 in the line-up Leon Cross, who hit another 21, but the remaining wickets fell swiftly with only a few runs between them setting an achievable target of 141 in their 38 overs for Kaipara.
Kaipara's Brad Wilson was on-form with the ball, taking two wickets for three runs in his one over, while Penney took 2-23 in 10 overs, including two maidens, and Kevin Forde also chipped out 2-36 in 10 overs.
Kaipara's openers Tauseef Satti smashed 64 and Brad Wilson hit 70 before his dismissal by Derrick Bon, to reach the target easily in 24 overs, winning the match 1-143 - a satisfying win after being pipped by Maungakaramea last week.