Cricket: EC Bays opening five dismissed for ducks

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

The East Coast Bays premier team would prefer to forget they played the first day of their Auckland club fifth-round match against Parnell.

After deciding to bat on their home pitch at Mairangi Bay, their first five batsmen were back in the pavilion without scoring, four of them falling in a brilliant spell by fast-medium bowler Simon Dykes.

Their lower order, led by Matt Mimmack, battled back to end the innings at 84, but for Bays, who are struggling at the bottom of the championship ladder and have relegation in view, it was a disaster.

Dykes, the son of New Zealand selector and former Auckland wicketkeeper Ross Dykes, ended with seven for 23, his second seven-wicket bag this season.

But any vagaries perceived in the pitch did not trouble Parnell, although their innings was also not without drama when Matt Cairns was dismissed, handled ball.

Parnell had scored 207 for six by the close, with skipper Paul Vujnovich unbeaten on 76. Chris Brown had captured five for 50 for Bays.

Russell Hewage (76) and John Vujnovich (50) carried Suburbs New Lynn to 180 and put their side in a good position against North Shore, who had struggled to 81 for seven by the close.

Shore's Surrey professional, Dave Gorrod, took five for 46 in the Suburbs innings.

Howick Pakuranga, without their Auckland players, Brooke Walker and Kyle Mills, still managed to dismiss Birkenhead, who had Chris Drum and Terry Crabb missing, for 107. They were helped by the collapse of the lower order, the last five batsmen compiling just three runs between them after a lethal spell by Brad Neilson (6-24).

But the easterners hardly fared any better, having lost five wickets for 75 at the close.

Cornwall, 254 for nine declared, had an advantage over championship leaders, Grafton, who lost two early wickets for just 12.

First-grade leaders Papatoetoe scored 212 and were evenly poised with Auckland University (51 for one).

Cornwall made 179 against Takapuna, who had replied with 79 for two; Eden Roskill, with 171 for five, led Howick Pakuranga 136; and Waitakere hit 262 and had Ellerslie at 30 for one at stumps.