With the first weekend of two day cricket just being played I’ll give y’all a quick recap and what went down in what was an action packed first weekend back on grass. There were some stellar performances from a couple of seasoned campaigners along with some big name players not really shining nearly 6 weeks into the competition.

In the first match of the Major Premiership we look at the Parnell side who have not been going as well as they’d like so far this season taking on University at University. The visitors posted what could be called a below par score of 190 with University finishing the day on 20/1 needing another 17 runs to take the first innings win. (A Ireland 4/30)

Takapuna made the long trip out to South Auckland over the weekend where they took on Papatoetoe. Batting first Takapuna could only make 168 with new player to the club Abdullah Sayed picking up 4 wickets. Papatoetoe went into bat afterwards and finished the day on 91/5 with the matched poised very evenly.

The star studded Suburbs New Lynn took on Howick Pakuranga at home and the visitors were up first with the bat. Player Coach Darren Eckford has been one of the star bowlers over the last few seasons in the club scene and this weekend wasn’t any different, the quick bowler picking up a crazy 9/32 and funnily enough the other wicket was also to him in the form of a run out. With the efforts of Eckford, Howick Pak could only put 145 on the board. Suburbs finished the day batting on 85/4.

In the battle of the two North Shore sides East Coast Bays took on Birkenhead at home. ECB batting first surprisingly could only put together 112 with Rut Botadra snaring 4 wickets. Birkenhead were straight into bat after dismissing ECB they ended the day with the 1st Innings win by getting to 187/8 with long time club cricketer Terry Crabb picking up a half century.

Looking towards to the Minor Premiership now Cornwall are in the midst of what’s sure to be a cracker of a game against Grafton. Cornwall batting first notched up 329/6 with Aces batter Michael Guptill-Bunce racking up 109 and overseas player Michael Thornely yet again scoring runs but coming just 1 run shy of a century. Grafton ended the day quite nicely with the bat on 62/1.

There was another ‘local’ derby this time being the westies in Waitakere playing Eden Roskill at Waitak. The home side batted first making a decent enough 199 with Daniel Moreton scoring 70. Eden Roskill though did not end the day the way they would have hoped finishing on 39/5.

Looking at the last game of the weekend still on day 1 though it was definitely action packed with North Shore playing Ellerslie. North Shore were skittled for only 114 with Andrew Scott and Matt Coxon both picking up 3 wickets. Ellerslie going into bat would’ve been hoping to pick up 1st Innings points only to be rattled out for 61 with Carl Brungar picking up 4 wickets. North Shore going back into bat for the second time in the day finishing on 25/3.

-The Pigeon