DGRADE
TAHARA has retained its undefeated status in the Hamilton and District Cricket Association D grade competition with a two-run victory against Hamilton at Kennedy Oval West on Saturday in a thrilling contest.
The Blue Caps were expected to take care of business easily as they have all summer long, but Hamilton won the toss and elected to send Tahara into bat.
The tactic did not pay dividends for the home side as Tyler Gleeson struck a 103-not-out from 114 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes to lead the way for the Blue Caps as Keith Northcott (41) and Colin Myers (23-not-out) ensured the visitors finished with 4-201.
In reply Hamilton was all but gone at 6-103 when Terry Walker was joined by Connor Knight and the pair added 82 for the seventh wicket to drag the home side back into the game.
Walker was in control as he attacked the bowlers to all parts of the ground with Knight (eight) remaining stoic at the other end, but when Knight was caught by Gleeson with Hamilton needing only 17 more runs Tahara came back hard.
By grabbing the wicket Luke Ferguson gave his side a sniff and when he sent Dustyn Cooper back to the pavilion first ball, he gave Tahara a strong chance of victory.
Walker would be on strike for the final over with 8-192 on the board and 90 against his name in book and the hopes of Hamilton weighed on his shoulders as he took seven runs from the first three balls but gave the strike to his number 10 partner.
It was two wickets in two balls for Tahara as Ferguson grabbed his fifth wicket with his bowling of Luke McConchie (duck) and then Anthony Ractliffe ran out Hadyn Riley (duck) to end the game as Ferguson took the honours with 5-18 while Walker remained not out on 97.
COLERAINE D TARRINGTON
A WET turf wicket and the coin falling the correct way helped Coleraine easily account for Tarrington by five wickets at Turnbull St.
The wicket was perfect for the bowlers as 15 wickets fell on the day for only 117 runs with Tarrington routed for only 58 after being sent into bat as Tomas Janetzki (4-13) and Xavier Dwyer (3-3) shared the spoils for the home side.
It was not the expected easy run chase as the Tigers ensured Coleraine would have to earn the victory as five wickets tumbled in the 17 overs that were needed to hunt down the target.
ST ANDREWS D PIGEON PONDS
PIGEON Ponds failed to hunt down the target set by St Andrews at Pedrina Park 3 on Saturday as the visitors fell 12 runs shy in an entertaining clash.
St Andrews won the toss and elected to bat with the top five batsmen in the order all reaching double figures as John Hockey (55-not-out) and Sineth Hansa (31) led the way with the willow for the Drews.
In reply, the Pigeons were well served by Michael Craig (50), Andrew Colgan (25), and Campbell Craig (23) but were all out for 150 with six overs left to bat.
Grampians returned to the form that once had the Pumas atop the ladder as Ken Bird (106-retired-not-out), Alex Bird (74-not-out) and Charles Prentice (38) feasting on the Hamilton North attack at Hamilton Recreation Reserve.
The Pumas total of 1-248 was never in danger of being hunted down by the home side as Grampians dismissed the Hammers for only 82.
