The irony for United is that, despite playing an “away” semifinal, they will still be on their home ground, as Marist and United are the only clubs in the seven-team competition to share facilities.
But it will require a considerable lift from the Levin loss. After the departure of English import James Woodford, and allrounder Brendon Walker being unavailable, United’s upper and middle order were dismissed cheaply against Levin’s seam-based attack – all out for 207 in the 49th over.
At least 30-40 runs short of putting real pressure on Levin’s veteran batsmen, United’s openers Greg Smith (51) and Matthew Boswell worked their way carefully to a half-century partnership, before bowlers Dion Sanson (3-29) and Jesse Parker (2-39) went to work.
Only Carter Hobbs (27) managed to protect his wicket as the rest of the top order was dismissed to leave United in big trouble at 133-7.
Up stepped the returning Robbie Power (74 not out from 69 balls), who struck nine boundaries and three sixes in a defiant innings, with all the lower-order batsmen around him dismissed in single figures.
Curtis Maclachlan (2-39) had taken out the last of the recognised batsmen, and then Sanson and Andre Halbert (2-29) cleaned up the tail to strand Power and prevent him doing any more damage with 10 balls remaining in the innings.
In reply, Levin also had a half-century opening stand, but theirs took only eight overs as Bailey Te Tomo (34) and Mathew Wilson (21) had the visitors away to a flyer, striking nine boundaries between them.
It took the introduction of Max Carroll (2-34) and Power (2-47) to stem the momentum, with Carroll bowling Wilson through the gate and getting Te Tomo to hole out in the deep, while Power trapped new batsmen Jesse Parker in front.
That just brought out Matt Good (94 not out from 87 balls). Supported by Sanson (23), Good displayed all the shots, including hitting three consecutive balls for six.
While Sanson fell to Power off a bat-pad catch, and Ryan Taylor took a while to get going – 21 balls before his first run – Good had it all under control, striking 11 boundaries as well as the sixes.
Good’s only disappointment was being more than one scoring shot shy of his century when the winning run came.
At Weraroa Domain, the home side was likely also very confident of taking a Whanganui club down a peg or two before the playoffs when they raised 322 before being dismissed by Marist at the start of the 50th over.
Opener Jamie Marshall (54) and No 3 Prabodha Liyanage (79) led the way, and most of the top order got starts to maintain momentum – the pick of them being skipper Locky Spring (36), Kelsey Fahey (38), Caleb O’Connell and Shane Weldon (both 24).
Marist’s bowlers worked gamely on a batting pitch to try and hold them back, with Sam O’Leary (2-38) getting top-order scalps while spinner Joel Clark (4-53) continued his run of form, picking up wickets near the end when the hosts were swinging at everything.
At the time, Weraroa probably weren’t concerned that they left potential runs on the table by being dismissed with five balls remaining, especially when Clark, last weekend’s century-maker for Marist, was dismissed early.
But stepping forward this weekend was Craig Thorpe (105 from 113), who was promoted from No 7 to opener and delivered on all fronts, striking 16 boundaries.
Returning to the side and continuing his superb form was Tom Dempster (71 from 52), as he and Thorpe put on a 130-run partnership in quick time.
Dempster had just put a boundary and a two on Jaedyn Dawson before being caught at 144-2 after 21 overs, well ahead of the required run rate.
It was a scenario tailor-made for Mark Fraser (83 not out from 94), who was measured and controlled – able to wait for the hittable deliveries, which included five boundaries and three sixes.
Thorpe’s outstanding innings finally ended in the 36th over, having repaid the faith bestowed on him, and out came the fireman in Chris Stewart (38 not out from 31) to reunite the old firm with Fraser.
From 220-3, the pair put together another century partnership for the winning runs to be struck with seven balls remaining – Stewart stroking only two boundaries and a six but scoring frequently across the park, while after his watchful start, Fraser ramped up his scoring shots by the finish.
Marist, as a team, have really delivered in their last three games, with different players stepping up every week, and it was a shame they had to settle for second place on the table, as Red Star put Paraparaumu to the sword, bowling them out for 162 and cruising to victory by the 26th over.
The door is still open for Whanganui High School 1st XI to make the Premier 2 40-over final after a clutch 18-run win over Whanganui Renegades in the penultimate round on Saturday.
Renegades still hold second place from WHS on net run rate, behind uncatchable Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens, so it will all come down to this weekend when Renegades have to travel to play Marton, while WHS face Property Brokers United 2nd XI.
In Premier 3 30-over, Kaitoke Knight Riders continued their unbeaten streak with a big win over Awa City Cavaliers, while the Marton Saracens P3′s scored a crucial 16-run win over Marist 2nd XI to take over the other grand final spot with one round remaining.
Results
Coastal Challenge
Roofbox Paraparaumu 162 (J Griffith 43, B Gill 29; E Childs 3-26, Z Antis 2-21, Q Childs 2-21, P Sigvertsen 2-28) lost to Burger King Red Star 165-4 (R Anderson 74no, M Steventon 40) by six wickets.
Property Brokers United 207 (R Power 74no, G Smith 51, C Hobbs 27; D Sanson 3-29, A Halbert 2-29, J Parker 2-29, C Maclachlan 2-29) lost to Levin Old Boys 208-4 (M Good 94no, B Te Tomo 34, D Sanson 23, M Wilson 21; M Carroll 2-34, R Power 2-47) by six wickets.
Weraroa CC 322 (P Liyanage 79, J Marshall 54, K Fahey 38, L Spring 36, C O’Connell 24, S Weldon 24; J Clark 4-53, S O’Leary 2-38) lost to Wanganui Vet Services Marist 327-3 (C Thorpe 105, M Fraser 83no, T Dempster 71, C Stewart 38no) by seven wickets.
Premier 2 40-over
Whanganui High School 1st XI 208-7 (L Symes 58, N Burroughs 44, C Meredith 29, R Meredith 23, E Toy 21no; M Deighton 2-34, A Thomas 2-34, L Brennan 2-39) bt Whanganui Renegades 190-7 (R Donaldson 35no, N Sherbone 34, T Tatana 30no; D Brennan 3-27, L Hoekstra 2-31) by 18 runs.
Premier 3 30-over
Kaitoke Knight Riders 216-5 (M Trass 58, Z Payne-Potaka 56, N Tito 35; K Hoekstra 2-22, J Marshall 2-23) bt Awa City Cavaliers 56 (M Tongotea 4-14, N McKay 3-13) by 160 runs.
Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens P3′s 141-9 (S Edwards 62no, P Galpin 26) bt Wanganui Vet Services Marist 2nd XI 125 (A Reynolds-Rowe 3-18, A George 3-27) by 16 runs.
