Tyler Lortan hung around a bit. All images: PHOTOSPORT

Saints go four from four

Posted Friday, 5 April, 2019 in Match Reports

NZCT National Club Cricket Championship 2019

Cornwall Cricket Club, Auckland

2-7 April 2019

ROUND FOUR

St Albans defeated Green Island by four wickets

Christchurch’s St Albans made it four from four as they put themselves into the 1v2 Final and dealt a cruel blow to their fellow South Island representatives who needed the win themselves.

Green Island opted for a bat on the number two ground, but were soon in strife as they lost their top three inside the first six overs — including Brad Wilson, back in the XI after his century two games earlier.

Bailen Thatcher had accounted for all three at 31 for three, and would go on to a five-wicket bag when he claimed the next two wickets as well, dismissing all the top five batsmen in his impressive 5-50 off eight overs (4-22 off his first over spell).

But Gregor Croudis had got some runs on the board for the southerners in the interim — the total having expanded to 195 for four by the 38th over.

Thatcher had been made to sweat for that five-fa, but when it came, it stopped Croudis on 91 — bowled after having faced 100 deliveries; and having swatted eight boundaries and three sixes in his innings.

With Geordie Scott already back in the tent, Croudis had found support from Christi Viljoen whose dependability down the order was on display yet again. They’d shared a 145-run stand for the fifth wicket and Viljoen would remain undefeated, reaching 97 not out off 116 balls (8x4, 3x6) but denied a century by some tight and consistent bowling through the death.

James Tapper managed to get in on the action with the last two wickets to fall before Green Island headed in for lunch having posted 269 for seven.

St Albans made their customary solid start in reply. Dan Sharples again reached a half century, but would fall just five runs shy of what would have been a brisk century opening stand with Greg Dawson.

Anchorman Dawson began work on a fresh partnership with Tyler Lortan who arrived in the 14th over and didn’t leave until the job was done.

Green Island started to fight back with the ball, however, Mark Joyce picking up Dawson caught on 44, en route to three for 36 off his nine overs.

The problem for Green Island was that they just couldn’t get rid of Lortan, who shared a 66-run stand for the fourth wicket for Robbie Polson, and a 38-run stand for the fifth with Ben Langrope before Matt Holstein got their side across the line in the 49th over. It was the highest total St Albans had ever chased down at the tournament.