The form book was thrown out of the window on day one of the latest round of two-day matches in the Major Championship as leaders Suburbs New Lynn are facing a large run chase against Birkenhead City while fifth placed Papatoetoe have already accounted for second placed Parnell on first innings.

In the Minor Championship leaders Auckland University are up against it in the top of the table clash with Cornwall.

Hedley Howarth Trophy – Two-Day Major Championship

Round Seven – Day One

The Fox Suburbs New Lynn v Harcourts Cooper & Co Birkenhead City – Ken Maunder Park

Harcourts Cooper & Co Birkenhead City have the runs on the board after day one of their match with Major Championship leaders The Fox Suburbs New Lynn at Ken Maunder Park thanks to a century from veteran Terry Crabb.

Suburbs began the day with an 18 point cushion at the top of the ladder but will now have to work hard for first innings points on day two after Crabb struck 17 boundaries in a sublime 134.

The left hander`s efforts helped City to a total of 289 before they were bowled out with Nic Montgomery (32) and Ullrich Boshoff (26) offering Crabb valuable support throughout his innings.

Off spinner James Nolen was the pick of the hosts attack returning figures of 5/77 from his 24 overs and Suburbs openers Sachin Variath and Michael Barry survived the final two overs of the day to ensure all ten wickets are intact.

Harcourts Cooper & Co Birkenhead City 289 (T Crabb 134, N Montgomery 32, J Nolen 5/77) plays The Fox Suburbs New Lynn 4/0 after day one.

Papatoetoe v Parnell – Papatoetoe Recreation Ground

Papatoetoe kept their top four hopes alive after securing first innings points on day one of their match against Parnell at the Recreation Ground.

Going into the game Papatoetoe sat in fifth position on the Major Championship ladder with just one match to play before the competition splits into top four and bottom four giving the hosts one last chance to crack the top half of the table.

Given this motivation Papatoetoe, and Ollie Pringle in particular, seemed to be inspired against the second placed visitors as the tall quick ripped through the Parnell line up returning the outstanding figures of 6/25 from 14.1 overs.

Arminder Sohal (4/28) was also on song with the ball and he combined with Pringle to dismiss the visitors in 36 overs with just 84 runs on the board. In reply the hosts didn’t look to be in any danger as they cruised to 44/1 and 57/2 but four quick wickets from James Walsh made things interesting.

However Walsh’s efforts proved to be in vain as opener Logan Clark’s 33 calmed the nerves. Once the target was reached the hosts immediately declared their innings but Parnell openers Tim McIntosh and William Brittain were able to bat out the remaining eight overs of the day.

Parnell 84 (O Pringle 6/25, A Sohal 4/28) & 16/0 plays Papatoetoe 85/6 dec (L Clark 33, J Walsh 4/25) after day one.

Takapuna v New World Victoria Park Grafton United – Onewa Domain

The match between Takapuna and New World Victoria Park Grafton United is in the balance after day one at Onewa Domain.

A battling 96 from opener Bill Walsh enabled Grafton to post a solid total of 233 batting first. Walsh faced 177 deliveries in a 55 over stay at the crease and was well supported by Shikar Chaturvedi (44) and Kyle Ruffell (29no) who played a useful cameo from the number ten position to help bolster the total.

The hosts used no fewer than nine bowlers in their attempts to oust the visiting batsmen. Aaron Watson had the most success claiming 4/66 from 20 overs while Elliott Herd and Greg Johnson bagged two each.

Johnson and Kyle Dunsmore then batted out the remaining 13 overs of the day taking their side to 25/0 at the close, setting up an intriguing second day.

New World Victoria Park Grafton United 233 (B Walsh 96, S Chaturvedi 44, A Watson 4/66) plays Takapuna 25/0 after day one.

ILG East Coast Bays v Howick Pakuranga – Windsor Park

Reigning champions ILG East Coast Bays ended day one of their match with bottom of the ladder Howick Pakuranga on 216/9 at Windsor Park.

Batting first the hosts battled through 94 overs with Donovan Deeble (47) and Rowan Bezuidenhout (44no) top scoring.

Aces seamer Donovan Grobbelaar sent down 24 impressive overs for the visitors conceding only 40 runs whilst picking up three wickets but Patrick Cairns returned the best figures claiming 4/37 from his 24.

Bays currently sit third on the ladder 20 points behind leaders Suburbs New Lynn while Howick are just three points behind Grafton in the race to avoid the drop.

ILG East Coast Bays 216/9 (D Deeble 47, R Bezuidenhout 44no, P Cairns 4/37, D Grobbelaar 3/40) plays Howick Pakuranga after day one.

Tom Hellaby Trophy – Two-Day Minor Championship

Round Seven – Day One

Cornwall v Auckland University – Cornwall Park

Another century from Michael Thornely has put Cornwall firmly into the drivers seat after day one of their top of the table clash with Auckland University at Cornwall Park.

Less than four points separated these two sides after six rounds of matches but the first day of the crucial encounter was particularly one sided with Englishman Thornely continuing his excellent form.

Thornely was already the Premier grades leading run scorer before Saturday`s first day and when he reached 26 he became the first batsman to reach 1000 runs for the season. Not content with this the Leicestershire CCC all rounder surged to his fourth century of the season before eventually being dismissed for 143.

Team mate Michael Guptill-Bunce passed 900 runs for the season when he struck 43 at the top of the innings and with PJ Thomas adding 44 from number ten Cornwall were able to post a mammoth total of 343 in 88.1 overs.

Left arm spinner Vishi Jeet was the standout of the Varsity attack claiming 6/73 from 20.5 overs. Jeet was then asked to open the batting with Barrington Rowland in a tricky seven over period before the close of play but the pair emerged unscathed.

Cornwall 343 (M Thornely 143, P Thomas 44, M Guptill-Bunce 43, S Anderson 38) plays Auckland University 16/0 after day one.

New Balance Waitakere City v Ellerslie – Te Atatu Park

Heavy overnight rain meant only 79 overs were possible on day one of the match between New Balance Waitakere City and Ellerslie at Te Atatu Park.

When play finally got underway Ellerslie were asked to bat first and reached 237/9 by the close of play. Matthew Drum scored his second half century of the season while Matthew Wall (31) and Mathimugan Thanabalasingham (30) were also in form for the visitors, with Marc Carmody providing some lower order resistance with 41.

Mark Tulloch claimed three and Robert Evans-Moore two wickets for the hosts who are looking to get back into the promotion race with a deficit of 27 points to make up on leaders Auckland University.

Ellerslie 237/9 (M Drum 57, M Carmody 41, M Wall 31, M Thanabalasingham 30; M Tulloch 3/59) plays New Balance Waitakere City after day one.

North Shore v Eden Roskill – Devonport Domain

North Shore looked poised to secure first innings points against Eden Roskill at Devonport Domain after an attritional first day’s play on Saturday.

The visitors batted first and were in trouble in the early stages falling to 23/4. A half century from Andrew Mansale went someway to rebuilding the innings but a relentless Shore attack contained Roskill`s batsmen for 70 overs before they were bowled out for 135.

Aidan O`Connor returned the excellent figures of 3/11 from ten overs while all six Shore bowlers took at least one wicket.

In reply Shore reach 85/4 in 28 overs. Skipper Josh Tasman-Jones once again led from the front with 42 but four wickets from Roskill coach Azhar Abbas has kept his side in the match.

Eden Roskill 135 (A Mansale 52, A O`Connor 3/11) plays North Shore 85/4 (J Tasman-Jones 46, A Abbas 4/38) after day one.