Former New Zealand captain Lee Germon warmed up for his duties as Otago Volts captain for the Super Max series, starting for Otago on Friday, by hitting 71 in North Otago club cricket on Saturday.

Germon, who has come out of retirement to lead Otago, is playing his club cricket in North Otago for the Waitaki Boys' High School team.

However, his innings wasn't enough to fire his team-mates. WBHS made 176/4 in its 50 overs, as Matthew Dawe added 48 to Germon's score.

But its opponent Albion, boosted by 79 runs from Ryan De Joux, was able to hang on and take a two-wicket win.

Another Canterbury ex-pat, Craig Cumming produced a timely 145 for Green Island. He hit five sixes and 17 fours in his innings which began with a 68-run opening partnership with Otago player Chris Gaffaney.

Green Island made 278/8 to which Otago Colts replied with 234/9.

University Grange must have felt reasonably comfortable with its score of 269/7 against Albion. But Albion, with New Zealand opener Mark Richardson scoring 77, Damion Petre 53 not out and Darin Smith 50 passed the target with six wickets to spare.

Another Volts candidate Karl O'Dowda marked his return to the club scene by taking 5-30 for his Carisbrook-Dunedin club to help his side to a comfortable win over North East Valley.

Canterbury's players finally swapped their flippers for cricket shoes and began two-day play on Saturday.

Canterbury captain Gary Stead might be better known for his batting but his 3-1 helped Riccarton put East-Shirley in a tricky position by stumps. Riccarton, captained by Robbie Frew, declared at 152/8, then had East-Shirley struggling at 88/7.

Canterbury Super Max player Mark Hastings was in good all-round form on the day for his Burnside club which met Sydenham. Hastings took 5-30 as Sydenham was all out for 128. Hastings then scored 60, as did Nick Horsley, who was unbeaten at stumps, to help Burnside to 196/5.

Wellington's club season opened with one-day games. Defending Pearce Cup champion Stokes Valley posted 180/7 against Taita. Wellington representative Matthew Walker scored 77 while Taita was all out for 121 thanks to Shane Battock's 5-34.

Eastern Suburbs benefitted from Jason Wells 76 and Stephen Mather's 56 in reaching 275/5. Karori could only reply with 132, 40 of then coming from Richard Petrie. Off-spinner Jeetan Patel took 6-42.

Fellow representative spinner Mark Jefferson took 4-28 to help Hutt Districts to an 83-run win over Naenae.

In the Hazlett Cup section, demoted side Wellington Collegians could not have made a worse start. Despite the effort of Stephen Hotter in taking 6-17 and James Franklin's 3-10, North City's 149 was still too much for the Collegians who were all out for 87, Franklin being unbeaten on 42 not out.

Around the Central Districts, Jacob Hill scored a fine 145 for Kia Toa-Freyberg in its 357/3 against Old Boys which was 122/6 at stumps in Manawatu club cricket. Jacob Oram's bowling arm took 4-12 as United 127/3 responded to Palmerston's 126.

In Hawke's Bay, Central Hawke's Bay's Brent Jones took 8-45 in Taradale's 179/9 declared. Chasing 257 to win, CHB ended the day on 227/6.

Tama Canning almost carried his Suburbs team to a win over Howick Pakuranga in Auckland club cricket. HP scored 243/7 with Auckland Aces batsman John Aiken hitting 68. After taking 4-36 Canning led the assault with 85, Suburbs ended up finishing 20 runs short of its target.

Cornwall maintained its hold on the one-day competition with a five-wicket win over East Coast Bays.

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