Nelson wins cricket's Newman Shield

The Newman Shield will remain in Nelson hands for the winter.

On Sunday the Nelson Griffins notched up a 33-run win over their Marlborough counterparts at Horton Park, completing home-and-away victories during the 2024-25 season.

Both sides were relatively young and inexperienced at rep level, resulting in a tightly-fought match, which the visiting side came out on top of mainly due to a more consistent batting display.

Inserted by Marlborough, Nelson amassed a slightly below-par total of 208, being bowled out in the 49^th over.

Their best partnership came for the second wicket, Sam Elstone, 74 from 76, and Finn Restieaux, 29 from 39, combining to add 64 runs. The only other contribution of note came from Sean Neal, 29 from 31, as Marlborough kept chipping out wickets with tight bowling.

The wickets were shared around. Zariab Karkaria bowled well at the top, claiming 1-23 from six. Archie Cornelius bagged 2-23 from five but the best figures belonged to youngster Luke Holdaway, the medium pacer grabbing 3-19 from eight overs.

After losing the early wicket of Corey Bovey, Marlborough consolidated through Holdaway and player/coach Andre McCaa, the pair pushing the score through to 63 before Holdaway, 14 from 51, was bowled by Neal.

From then wickets fell at regular intervals, the only constant being McCaa who batted until the 44^th over, scoring 78 from 106 balls to hold the innings together as the required run rate began to rise.

His dismissal left Marlborough needing 60 runs from six overs, a task that proved well beyond the local tailenders, although Kirk Nicholas with 28 from 29 balls did his best.

Eventually, Marlborough succumbed for 175 in the 49^thover, leaving Nelson to take the prized trophy back across the Whangamoas.

Best of their bowlers was former Marlborough man Neal, who picked up 5-38 from his 10 overs. Cameron Neame and Adam Ward both bagged a brace.