Cricket: Brothers square off against brothers in premier game

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

There was no love lost when the brothers Vujnovich and Fawkner went head to head for premier sides, Suburbs New Lynn and Parnell.

John and Paul Vujnovich are the respective skippers this season, but while they have a healthy regard for each other, when they are out in the middle it is all on. It is even more so with Chris and Cam Fawkner.

The four were once team-mates in Suburbs colours until going their separate ways.

There was a uniqueness about the opening day of their sixth round match at Orakei when the Vujnovich boys went out for the toss.

The sight of Chris Fawkner, who took six for 87, bowling a fast bouncer at his brother gave an indication of their rivalry.

By the end of the day, Parnell had a slight advantage, having scored 260. Suburbs, the leading side, were 24 for one.

Grafton, third on the ladder, have a formidable task to overtake second-placed Howick Pakuranga's 338. But the city-based club will have all of next Saturday to achieve that target.

Birkenhead, fighting to stay out of the relegation zone, scored 201 but relied on all-rounder Terry Crabb, with 52, and New Zealand fast-medium bowler, Chris Drum, who hit 61, to get them out of trouble. North Shore were 114 for five in reply.

Any chance East Coast Bays had of getting off the bottom of the ladder evaporated when Cornwall dismissed them for 114. By the close Stephen Peters and Rob Lynch, with 86 and 72 not out respectively, had taken Cornwall to 242 for three.

There were several top performances in the first grade, centuries going to James Gibson for Ellerslie against Takapuna, Mark Wright 128 not out for Cornwall against Auckland University and Shane Singe 116 for Papatoetoe against Eden Roskill.

Ellerslie's Scott Davies took seven for 38 and Gareth Wood grabbed seven for 24 for Papatoetoe.