By Brendan Hodgson and Peter Jones
Nailbiting finishes highlighted the opening round of the Tasman Premier League, with the combined Nelson-Marlborough 50-over competition getting under way on Saturday.
Two matches were decided by a single wicket, while another went down to the final three balls.
Car Company Stoke Nayland made the strongest statement of the round, beating New World Nelson City Wakatu by 88 runs at Marsden Recreation Ground.
English overseas recruit Jack Kearns made an immediate impression on debut, scoring 87 from 92 balls, including seven fours and five sixes.
After early wickets, Brendan Hodgson added 37 and Dylan Eginton 31 as Stoke Nayland posted 239/8 after being sent in by the visitors.
Seamer Cory Stewart was the pick of the Wakatu attack, claiming an opening-day five-wicket bag with figures of 5-46 from 10 overs.
Wakatu were in early trouble as Jared Silvester removed both openers in the first over.
The visitors were eventually dismissed for 151 in 38 overs, with Fintan Batt top-scoring with 43 and Bryan Krammer making 28.
Stoke Nayland also unveiled former New Zealand under-19 leg-spinner Tim Muir, who claimed 4-24 from seven overs. Silvester and Tom Wilson took two wickets apiece.
The win earned Stoke Nayland a valuable bonus point and ensured they retained the Congdon Shield, a Ranfurly Shield-style challenge trophy contested between Nelson teams in premier matches.
At Ngawhatu Park, Quaystone Nelson College edged WTTU Tigers by two wickets in a match that went down to the final three balls.
Batting first after losing the toss, the Tigers were dismissed for 171, with skipper Jack Aldridge leading the way with 55. Jacob Walters contributed 33 and Chethana Dissanayake 26.
Jack also impressed with the ball, taking 4-15 from 4.3 overs despite being the seventh bowler used. His performance may leave the Tigers wondering whether introducing him earlier could have made the difference.
In reply, Oran Sim held his nerve to guide College home, finishing unbeaten on 55 from 96 balls, while Jordan van den Berg provided valuable support with 46.
Thomas Maloney had earlier ripped through the Tigers line-up, taking 4-13 from eight overs, while Ryder Gestro and Jack North claimed three wickets apiece.
College eventually secured victory with two wickets in hand and three balls to spare.
Marlborough’s two representatives also suffered narrow defeats on opening day.
The Dolphins, chosen from the Renwick and Celtic clubs, and the Falcons, representing Wairau and Wairau Valley, both began their 2026-27 campaigns with home matches at Horton Park.
The Falcons faced Taylors Contracting Wolves on the number one ground, while the Dolphins met NBS ACOB on the adjoining number three wicket.
Both matches went down to the wire, with the Nelson-based sides scoring the winning runs with their last pair at the crease.
The Falcons batted first and battled to 106 all out in 33 overs. Jarrod Englefield top-scored with a gritty unbeaten 31 from 80 balls after opener Sukh Aulakh made 28 from 21 deliveries.
Sean Neal and Tommy McFarlane claimed three wickets apiece.
Wolves lost wickets regularly in reply on a difficult deck, including three wickets with only three runs required. However, their last pair held their nerve to guide the side home in the 27th over.
James Bell picked up three wickets, while Matthew Stretch, Sam Boyce and Aulakh each claimed two.
The Dolphins managed a more competitive 149 in 35 overs, anchored by Josh Poole's unbeaten 82 from 93 balls.
Vinod Perera took 5-34 to wrap up the home side's innings.
Early wickets from Jaden Adams and Luke Holdaway put ACOB under pressure at 25-4 before James Graham and Jonty Raxworthy engineered a recovery. Raxworthy went on to compile an unbeaten 69 from 105 balls to steer his side to victory.
Adams finished with 4-19, while Holdaway claimed 3-42 from his full allotment of overs.
The opening round provided a compelling start to the competition, with Wolves and NBS ACOB both claiming one-wicket victories.
The Wolves' chase was quick enough to earn a bonus point despite losing nine wickets in the process.
After round one
