Christi Viljoen blasted the first century of the tournament. All images: MBUTCHER

Viljoen plunders first century of Club Champs

Posted Tuesday, 2 April, 2019 in Match Reports

NZCT National Club Cricket Championship 2019

Cornwall Cricket Club, Auckland

2-7 April 2019

ROUND ONE

Green Island defeated Parnell by 185 runs

Dunedin’s Green Island celebrated their return to Nationals by stunning Parnell to the tune of a 185-run victory on the number three ground on the opening day of the 2019 NZCT National Club Championship at Cornwall Park.

Sent in, Green Island recovered from the loss of big early wickets thanks to a century from Otago Volt Christi Viljoen who pummelled the short straight boundaries at the smallest of the three Cornwall ovals.

Batting at six, Viljoen (above) slammed the first hundred of the tournament off just 87 balls (10x4, 5x6), with early support from fellow allrounder Geordie Scott who blasted his 64 off just 41 balls.

They were the chief architects of the innings, Viljoen reaching 116 before he became the last man to fall, trapped LBW by Nikith Perera (3-28) in the 45th over.

By then, the Green Island tally had reached 308, considered par for the number three ground.

Parnell’s tough day at the office continued with the bat, reduced to 28/5 inside the first seven overs of the reply as erstwhile Volt Blair Soper made a searing start with the ball.

Soper (4-27) produced a peach to trap opening batsman Flynn McGregor-Sumpter with just his second delivery and from there things quickly spiralled out of control for the Aucklanders.

Ben Horne provided some resistance with his 39 at number four, but the Auckland Aces keeper-batsman lacked support and, after his departure at 89 for seven at the hands of spinner Mark Joyce (3-24), the team was bowled out for 123 in 25.5 overs.