Parnell wins big at last

Two handy teams yet to get on the ladder as the round robin reached the halfway mark, title hopes were hanging by a thread on both sides as Parnell and Greerton went head to head on the number two ground.

The Aucklanders opted to bat, but the loss of two quick wickets soon had Auckland Aces duo Ben Horne and Anikhet Parikh in the middle looking to restore order from 14 for two, after Shane Wineti and Greerton skipper Brett Hampton accounted for an opening batsman each.

The Parnell pair brought up their 50-stand at a run-a-ball clip, Parikh the first to a half century, at run a ball pace in the 20th over.

They then flew past their 100-run stand off exactly 100 balls before Horne posted his own half century — with his second six. So far, so good, with the third-wicket stand advancing to 140.

But disaster would strike in the 25th when both in batsmen exited in the space of three balls, Mike Rowland picking up the brace in his second over to have Parnell 144 for four midway through the innings.

Skipper Brad Rodden would lead the way. MBUTCHER

James Boyd then had Ollie Pringle caught a couple of overs later as the pressure went back on the batting side. But Parnell captain Brad Rodden stepped up to the plate with an explosive knock of 75 off just 53 balls (4x4, 7x6) that saw Parnell on track for a 300-plus total.

After Rodden’s departure, caught off Henry Collier in the 44th over, the last four men then collectively added a further 44 runs to get them there, Parnell bowled out for 307 with just two balls left in the innings.

Collier and Daniel Spencer had picked them off, Collier on fire with a haul of 4-44 off his 6.4 overs.

In reply, Greerton’s cause was hampered by losing early wickets, paceman Ollie Pringle getting both openers caught at 25/2.

Ollie Pringle celebrates. MBUTCHER

Tom Renouf and Brett Hampton tried to get things going again, with skipper Hampton reaching 33 before Parnell was celebrating again.

Brett Hampton gets under it for Greerton. PHOTOSPORT

The two would fall in quick succession, to Henry King (3-48) and Parikh respectively, to leave Greerton with a difficult task from 78 for four.

Henry King grabbed three. PHOTOSPORT

Shane Wineti rallied the lower order with his 38, however, batting patiently for just over an hour in the hope someone might join in with him.

Shane Wineti fought hard. MBUTCHER

Parnell’s handy attack kept coming at them, however, Nikith Perera (2-31) and King picking up three more cheap wickets between them.

The required run rate well was ballooning away out of reach and when Wineti himself was caught off Perera on 38, even a late flurry from number nine Daniel Spencer (25 off 23) couldn’t save Greerton from their third straight loss.

Another tough ask for Greerton. PHOTOSPORT

Bowling them out for 175 in 41.2 overs, Parnell had got on the board with a whopping 132-run victory while Greerton were headed to the minor playoffs on the weekend.

Round 4
Friday 5 April 2019

• Napier Technical Old Boys v Parnell on Number One
• St Albans v Green Island on Number Two
• Greerton v Eastern Suburbs on Number Three

All matches are free admission and live-scored from 10am at nzc.nz