FORFEITS were the order of the day when LBC-HB Raukele and Pagini Hoods earned easy points over rivals Sirovai Mariners and Niugini Oil in Lae Cricket last weekend.
Sirovai Mariners failed to field a team against Raukele and Niugini Oil did not have the required seven players to start against Pagini Hoods.
Koukou thrashed Lagatoi with the two young batsman Gapi Mogala (54no) and Iamo Gure (71) in devastating form and led throughout the entire game with powerful batting display.
Koukou batted first with brothers Alan and Mathew Ila opening the innings. Alan (6) went first, and then Mathew (3) followed with the score at 17, and Magola and Gure took charge from there on with a record 140 runs partnership which virtually buried any hope of a Lagatoi win.
Gure was very punishing, scoring boundaries from all short pitched balls. His innings were ended when Archie Doko bowled him for the season’s highest score of 71 runs.
At the compulsory closure time, Koukou had batted for 31 overs and scored 166 for the loss of four wickets.
This meant that Lagatoi had to bat for the same number of overs and score at the rate of 5.3 runs an over to win.
It was heavy going from the outset and never at any stage appeared to threaten that rate only consistent Timothy Sibona (32), Manoke Bae (14) and Moale Samuel (12no) made the score look respectable. Lagatoi was 9 down for 117 at the 31st over.