Each without a win this season, Turamatuitui Tupapa and Avatiu-Nikao met in the bottom of the table cricket clash last weekend.

Avatiu-Nikao skipper Shane Thompson elected to put the Turamatuitui team out to field in the heat.

Hoping his team could get off to a good start through opening pair Mata and Trevor.

However this was short-lived after both batters were dismissed early and the pressure put back on Avatiu Nikao.

Turamatuitui Tupapa bowled superbly as wickets fell regularly through cricket legend Shogun (three wickets for five runs) and ace bowler Tuwunga (four wickets for six runs).

Despite a couple of early dropped catches Turamatuitui Tupapa couldn’t be faulted for their fielding, forcing three run outs.

Chasing 62 to win Turamatuitui Tupapa started positively through Ripa Tauia and Junior Ngere.

As both batters reached double figures the game looked to slip further and further from Avatiu-Nikao’s grasp.

However once both batters were out in quick concession, then three batters out without scoring it looked as if the game was turning to Avatiu-Nikao’s favour.

Batters Aku Teopenga and Fonny Marurai weren’t going to let the victory slip as they batted through to bring Turamatuitui Tupapa home.

Heat of a different kind was being felt at the Turangi Oval as Turangi hosted Tupapa 1. Batting first the hosts got off to a great start forcing an early double bowling change. Wayken Punga and Thomas Teinaki were brought on and bowled superbly to put the heat back on Turangi.

Punga’s line and length built pressure and bowling partner Teinaki seized on it as he ripped through the Turangi batters taking five wickets for 34 runs, including the prize wicket of in-form danger-man Vane Tangimetua.

Elia Tangimetua steadied the ship for the Turangi side and formed a much-needed partnership with his brother Tutu.

Elia’s hard work was rewarded as the teenager played an innings with maturity beyond his years to reach 62 and push the side’s team to a respectable 179.

Tupapa got off to an indifferent start with the opening batters being dismissed early.

Patimai Ataera made amends and established a strong partnership and in doing so worried the Turangi bowlers.

Manatu’s bowling kept Turangi in the game as he took three quick wickets.

T Teinaki and L Topetai kept the runs ticking over and it wasn’t long before Tupapa were within 40 of the total.

Tupapa were within two runs of victory however it wasn’t to be for Tupapa.

The Turangi wicket keeper produced a magical piece of cricket to run the last batter out and win the game.

Takuvaine captain Terry William used his home field knowledge to his advantage as he got his bowlers to exert as much bounce out of the wicket as they could and in doing so surprising many of the Muri batters.

Opening batter Tereinga Maoate continued his season’s fine form as he again anchored the batting innings with controlled shots and strong running between the wickets. Maoate’s 47 runs provided the platform for Mike Hoff and Sonny Shepherd to play their expansive hitting shots as they both played cameo roles to get the Muri total to 192.

With batting fire power Nooroto William, Bruce and the captain himself Terry William would have no doubt felt 193 runs for victory was attainable.

However Mike Hoff, or Mr Consistent as he has become known in cricket circles, bowled a fantastic opening spell to dismiss three early Takuvaine batters including N William and T William.

At 50 for six, things looked bleak for Takuvaine. However the Takuvaine never-say-never attitude got them back into the game as Bruce blazed the ball around the park.

One could sense a comeback as Bruce continued to score at will. However it wasn’t to be as Muri kept their heads and when Bruce was dismissed for 52 by Chief the win was Muri’s.

Out west at Raemaru, second-placed Arorangi were out to take the number one spot when they hosted Matavera.

Batting first, Matavera got off to a concentrated start. Raymond Roumanu and recently returned Taki Anaru were able to frustrate the Arorangi bowlers as the pair built a sensible innings around defence and strong running between the wickets.

The side pushed through to the 10th over before Roumanu was dismissed by a well-bowled ball by Haimona Browne. Anaru continued to anchor the other end until his patient innings of 20 was bought to an end in the 17th over.

Apii Mamanu’s bowling again proved a handful as his bounce and turn returned figures of five wickets for 34 runs. He was aptly supported in the field by son Tuaine Mamanu.

Chasing 142 for the win it was all on as Tom Vea launched into another of his trademark big-hitting half centuries while talented cricketer Daniel Webb fed him the strike.

Matavera bowler Campbell Hopkin was the standout as his fiery spell proved hard to score from – going only for 30 runs.

The Arorangi side looked well in control as Vea and Webb pushed the score through to 90 until Moko Kavana had Webb’s wicket. Webb’s departure bought to the crease one of the Cook Islands best timers of a ball -- Ronnie Forbes proving a handful for Matavera as he led his side to victory.