The race to win the right to a Zone 2 Hawke Cup challenge is nearing its conclusion after a dramatic penultimate round of Furlong Cup action.

There were star turns and upsets aplenty at the weekend, Cricket Wanganui — set up by an all-time record partnership — snuffing out Taranaki; then Manawatū going down to Wairarapa after trying in vain to fight their way back from a first innings deficit.

The latter was a remarkable match.

Wairarapa batted first at home at Masterton’s Rathkeale College, then got a crack at Manawatū after rain, early on the Sunday.

New-ball pair Stefan Hook-Sporry and youngster Ethan Childs relished the conditions and played a big role in their side’s exciting win. Their Wairarapa line-up having reached 214 on Saturday, the pacemen led the way in restricting Manawatū’s first dig to 203 — Hook snaring 4-53, while Childs ended up with 10 for the match: 6-51 in the first innings and 4-26 in the second.

Despite Wairarapa taking the all important first-innings lead, they almost blew it, however, by crumbling for just 62 in their second turn at bat — Central Stags rookie RAY TOOLE threading together endless wicket maidens in a destructive spell for the under pressure visitors.

That left Manawatū eight overs to find 74 runs for an outright in a late session — play having been extended until 8PM in the weather-affected game.

Unsurprisingly, Manawatū set off at pace in a gettable chase — but while runs flowed, wickets also tumbled and, when the last glimmers of daylight ran out, they were still 22 shy of saving face at 52 for eight.

A strong Hawke’s Bay unit meanwhile had racked up another comfortable win, an outright against Horowhenua-Kāpiti, to snatch the Furlong Cup lead from Manawatū and put themselves into pole for a challenge, with just the one round to go.

But perhaps the most extraordinary performances came at Whanganui’s Victoria Park, where Central Stag BEN SMITH (240 not out) and AKASH GILL (100 not out) wrote themselves into local history as they put on Cricket Wanganui’s highest ever partnership.

The pair shared a cracking, unbeaten third-wicket stand of 338* in a declared total of 399 for three, while Smith’s unbeaten 240 is a new Wanganui record individual score.

His double century flew off just 217 balls in a weekend to remember for the hosts.

After an arduous day in the dirt, Taranaki then lost three quick wickets in the tricky period before stumps. BLACKCAPS-contracted Stag WILL YOUNG held on to give the visitors some hope of a recovery. Young is on the road back from preseason shoulder surgery and got a good knock under his belt with his 71.

Even so, Taranaki just couldn’t get close to Wanganui’s mammoth total and was left with no option but to wear the big loss on the first innings.

Manawatū will now need to beat Taranaki in a tough final round to have a shot at the challenge — but, they also have to hope that Hawke's Bay loses against Wairarapa.

The final round begins on Saturday 1 February. Cricket Wanganui are at home and play Horowhenua-Kapiti at Victoria Park. Taranaki is away to Manawatū at Fitzherbert Park, and Hawke’s Bay away to Wairarapa at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Nelson and Marlborough meanwhile are competing and preparing to meet in the Zone 3 challenger competition, CD's South Island teams set to meet each other at Saxton Oval from this Saturday.

Nelson picked up a home win against Buller at the same venue in the latest match at the weekend, young CDU19 and NZU19 rep THOMAS ZOHRAB starring with both bat and ball to claim a five-fa and score a hundred in the same match.

 

 

 

Article added: Wednesday 22 January 2020