WBHS, Maungakaramea to clash in 50-over final

 
CRICKET
 
Whangarei Boys' High School and Maungakaramea continue to dominate premier club cricket this season, by booking themselves a berth in the 50-over final.
Twenty20 champions WBHS defeated Maungakaramea last month in the  final, and will attempt to add the 50-over title to their growing list of achievements.
Boys' High played their final round of the 50-over competition at Kensington against City on Saturday, and despite losing, kept their place at the top of the table alongside Maungakaramea.
After winning the toss, the school boys batted first, which they regretted later, director of cricket Russell Smith said.
"The (damp) conditions at the start of the day were difficult, and it was a battle to stay in let alone get runs," he said.
The first four wickets fell for just 22 runs, before Jordan Antunovich and Ryan Smith combined for a partnership of 76.
The lower order batsmen stepped up to take responsibility with the bat in the absence of skipper Rory Darkins, Henry Cooper and Richard Kaufman, who are playing for Northland at the Brian Dunning tournament in Taupo.
WBHS's remaining wickets fell quickly after that, leaving City to chase a target of 146.
City's Wayne Hutchenson had an outstanding day with the ball, taking four wickets for 30 runs, in his 10 overs.
Also playing further up in the order due to Ian and Chris Page, Tim Anderson and Jamie Kay being away with the Northland side, Owain Hopkins and Harry Darkins were on form with the bat, hitting 38 and 37 not out respectively, along with skipper Bert Horner, who scored 29.
City easily made the target in 42 overs, scoring 150, to win by six wickets.
Onerahi-Central were also in action at Kensington Park, making one last attempt to secure a final's berth, needing to win to bypass the table leaders. However, they a determined Kaipara Flats team came out firing.
Onerahi struggled without opening batsman Andy McDowell, away with Northland, and injured professional Garth Anderson and only made 113 after 32.3 overs.
Mark Dellow helped restrict Onerahi's scoring by taking 4/9 in six overs, as did Dexter Buchanan who took 4/26 in 10 overs.
Kaipara reached their target in 43 overs with six wickets to spare. Dellow and Kevin Forde were the best with the bat, hitting 29 each, with Forde finishing undefeated.
The win earned Kaipara Flats entry into the Northern Districts Club Championships later in the season, along with Maungakaramea. WBHS was ineligible to play as they play in the Gillette Cup.
The teams will play other club teams in the Northern Districts region, for a place in the national club championships.
The 50-over final will be played later in the season, with the two-day competition starting next weekend.