Cricket: Young bowler dazzles Birkenhead

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

A brilliant spell of pace bowling by 20-year-old Dunu Eliaba tore the heart out of Birkenhead when the third round of Auckland premier cricket competition finished.

Suburbs New Lynn had the North Harbour side 47 for seven at the start of play and dismissed them for 65, Eliaba ending with eight for 26 from 13 overs.

It has been a long while since Birkenhead were dismissed by any side for such a low total. They were missing player-coach Michael Clark and star bowler Chris Drum, but the result might not have been different given Eliaba's accuracy.

Three dismissals came from catches by wicketkeeper Reece Young, the slip cordon took three and two were trapped in front.

Eliaba's previous best figures were five for 27 this season against East Coast Bays.

Suburbs New Lynn scored 156 in reply but Birkenhead hung on long enough in their second innings of 130 to prevent maximum points being taken. Eliaba ended with match figures of 11 for 64.

Grafton staved off East Coast Bays after having been dismissed for 130 in their first innings.

Bays allrounder Michael Hendry took seven for 42 and with the bat scored an unbeaten 60 when his side were dismissed for 119.

Michael Hart's return to the North Shore line-up was timely. He scored 101 of his side's 233-7 declared, but a class century by former Central Districts all-rounder Sanjeeva Silva took Howick Pakuranga to within 15 of gaining first innings points. The match was drawn.

Cornwall's 239 for five was enough to beat Parnell, who were dismissed for 115.

In the first grade Damien Collard scored a century for Ellerslie, who headed Cornwall despite Mark Wright countering with 107.

Waitakere City led Eden Roskill, Auckland University beat Takapuna and table-topping Papatoetoe defeated Howick Pakuranga.