Marist's batting folded twice, leaving Riccarton a nine-wicket winner and a commanding leader of the Westpac Trust Trophy championship, with the maximum 48 points from its first three outings.
Despite Riccarton's undoubted ability, with medium-pacer Wayne Stead claiming a first-grade best eight-wicket bag to enhance his claims for Canterbury honours, it is an indictment on the strength of the 10-team competition.
Runs were scored more freely elsewhere with Graeme Archer (Lancaster Park) and Sam Foley (Old Boys) posting centuries to place their teams in strong positions against East-Christchurch-Shirley and Old Collegians respectively.
Success for Steads
Riccarton looked like a title champion when beating Marist at Hagley 3.
Marist struggled for runs in its first innings and was all out just after lunch for 92. Paul Chamberlain and Matt Ockwell offered resistance, but the Riccarton bowling was particularly aggressive. Phil Monk, in his last two overs before lunch, took three wickets and all the others had some success.
Riccarton had little trouble establishing a lead, with Gary Stead playing delightfully and Aftab Habib equally aggressive. Habib's uncanny habit of bisecting the field was of paramount importance in a partnership of 103 for the fourth wicket in 64 minutes. Stead, run out for 59, hit 11 fours.
Marist fared even worse in its second innings, medium-fast bowler Wayne Stead being rampant with an immaculate length and work off the pitch for his best figures in senior cricket.
Bowlers benefit
Young Sydenham tailender Tim Hamilton was the toast of his team-mates when he hoisted a six to give his team first-innings points after a tense duel with Burnside-West at Sydenham Park. Hamilton's bold blow over mid-wicket came from just the second ball he faced, and with the last pair at the crease.
Hamilton's heroics tended to overshadow two outstanding bowling efforts from pace bowlers Todd Harris (Sydenham) and Campbell Ogilvie (Burnside-West), who each took five wickets for their respective sides.
Batting first, Burnside's top order disappointed failing to apply themselves and they were shown up by No. 8 Shaun Craig, who struck a purposeful half century which included nine fours from 76 balls. He found support from Scott Blackman and they added 50 for the ninth wicket. Harris had the final say, however, removing both in the first over after lunch for his fine figures.
Sydenham made heavy weather in reply to the visitor's modest 131, crashing to 39 for five, with Ogilvie and his in-swingers, delivered off the wrong foot, doing the damage.
Sydenham's middle-order shored up the innings, with youngster Simon Leigh showing promise in his senior debut, sharing two valuable stands with stalwarts Ken Julian and Greg O'Reilly. But it came down to the last wicket before first innings points were decided in Sydenham's favour.
Points in balance
A patient, solid innings from opener Guy Bromley held St Albans together on the easy-paced pitch at Garrick Park. Bromley was seventh out and batted for 156 minutes, sharing a productive third-wicket stand of 43 with Jon Fielding.
Fielding was the dominant figure, scoring his 32 from as many balls, hitting three fours and a six. A ninth-wicket stand of 48 between Dale Shackel and Simon Murphy then gave the visitors a respectable score. Off-spinners John Stuart and Stephen Gibson were the pick of the bowlers.
The Woolston innings was built on the aggressive batting of Tim Walton who, with Robert Tibbotts, raised 29, and then with Chris Bell, who scored 38 of a stand worth 47. In the final half hour Anthony Timpson and Stuart added 53 unbroken together, carrying Woolston to the brink of first-innings points.
Old Boys in command
The Old Boys innings went from rags to riches. In the first half hour only one run was scored from the bat, but David Bond, whose cover driving was particularly effective, and Ben Yock added 50 in 34 minutes.
Yock played a resolute innings, but had to take second place to Sam Foley, who made his best score in senior two-day games. He did more than that, pulverising the Old Collegians attack, scoring 15 fours and four sixes. He reached his hundred in 112min from 102 balls. Not only did he hit the ball with tremendous force, he played some superb shots. Yock, too, was in complete control and they shared a stand of 173 in 112min.
Old Collegians was in terrible trouble against Sam Martin, who bowled fast, with accuracy, and got some help from the pitch -- all except Jim Blakely, who continued his astonishing run of success. He has now scored 355 runs this season for only four times out.
Archer's unbeaten century
An unbeaten 120 from Nottingham professional Graeme Archer put Lancaster Park in a strong position against East Christchurch-Shirley at Ensors Rd. Archer scored his hundred in 138min from 115 balls, the final 50 coming off 44 balls. He hit 15 fours and one five.
Choosing to bat first on a green pitch, East was soon in trouble, the first six wickets falling for 49, but this was more to poor shot selection than the vagaries of the pitch. Only a seventh-wicket stand of 34 between Brendon Murray and David Grocott stopped the rot, Grocott batting 102 minutes for six.
The pick of the Park bowlers was medium-pacer Cieran Hartley, who bowled with good control off line and length, while the medium-fast Michael Owens, for East, demanded respect.