Cricket: Cornwall retain their club title

Former New Zealand fast bowler Heath Davis spearheaded Cornwall to their second successive win in the Auckland first-grade cricket championship.

Against Grafton, who batted first, Davis bent his back and bowled fast and straight. He took five for 34 as Grafton were ripped out for 84, and would have produced even better figures had he not delivered 12 no-balls in his nine overs.

Cornwall, leading by 0.99 points at the start of the match, needed only to take first-innings points to win the championship, although there was a very remote chance that Howick Pakuranga, 10 points behind, could have got up in the event of a resounding victory over Suburbs New Lynn.

It was appropriate that the winning hit came from Cornwall skipper Charles Ewart with a four through the covers.

Howick Pakuranga had a sniff of a chance when they had Suburbs at 75 for four, but Auckland wicketkeeper Reece Young scored his third club century of the season, taking the westerners to 280 and meaning that Howick will battle to get more than first-innings points.

Takapuna and University Akarana, both in danger of relegation to the second division, are each locked in interesting struggles. Against North Shore (168) Takapuna were 123 for three, and the students scored 312 against East Coast Bays, who were 62 for two.

The promotion battle might hinge on whether Parnell (144 for three) can beat Eden Roskill (259) outright.

Papatoetoe skipper Neil Ronaldson set his side up to take maximum points from Ellerslie with a bowling spell of six wickets for five runs. Papatoetoe need just 25 more runs for victory and perhaps the right to promotion.