HB v Wanganui
Hawke Cup
Nelson Park, Napier
Mention the name Bronson Meehan and you'd expect to find a few tons next to his name in the record books.
But, no, the Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) batsman carved up his maiden century at Hawke's Bay senior men's level at the weekend in the crushing 10-wicket victory over Wanganui, in Napier, in their Hawke Cup qualifying match.
It's not that Meehan isn't capable of batting - far from it.
"I choked in the 90s a couple of times. I think I was 90-odd against Manawatu two years ago but guys like Michael Mason and co were bowling so it was a good knock," the 22-year-old sports co-ordinator from Nelson Park School said with a laugh.
He scored 109 runs on Saturday in the Pay Excellence Bay team's first innings total of 252 all out in 83 overs.
The right-hand opener carved up 19 boundaries and lofted two lusty sixes while No 7 Angus Schaw added 30.
"I'm pretty stoked because I've finally got the monkey off my back," Meehan said, adding it was a difficult wicket to bat on considering it had a greenish tinge to it.
"It was hard when the bowlers put it in the right areas. You know, 22 wickets fell on the first day so that sums up the bowling and the pitch."
Wanganui opening bowler Dominic Rayner took 3-67 while R Kinnerely claimed 3-63.
The Jacob Smith-captained Bay were outstanding with the ball and their fielding, skittling the visitors for a paltry 79 in just 26 overs.
Only four batsmen got into double figures with 15 the highest score.
Opener Andrew Mathieson took 5-23 from 11 overs, including four maidens while fellow Central Districts squad member Stevie Smidt took 2-37 from eight overs, including a maiden.
Asked to follow on, Wanganui did better in the second innings with 212 yesterday in 57 overs after losing two wickets overnight.
While the top order failed No 7 Mark Fraser eked out 79 runs and No 8 Rayner added 47 to their anemic total.
This time Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall bowler Jack Arnall took 6-51 from 15 overs, including four maidens, while Smidt backed up with 2-34 from nine overs, including a maiden.
Smith, unbeaten on 24, and fellow Cornwall opener Jayden Waters, 10 not out, comfortably eclipsed the target with 40 runs without losing a wicket.
"We played the first innings very well but I'm still a bit concerned about our batting," coach Lincoln Doull lamented.
Doull bemoaned his batsmen's lack of stickability after working themselves into double figures.
"A lot of guys were getting in but not going on so that's a little disappointing."
He lauded his bowlers, adding there were several catches behind the stumps, including the slips and gully.
Overall, Doull felt his men had something to work on, considering they were getting better every game into the 2012-13 season.
"We did all we could to get the maximum 10 points so we have to be happy with that."
The Bay host Wairarapa here in a fortnight but it's highly debatable if the opposition will stretch them.
Wairarapa were skittled for 34 in their first innings at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, after Taranaki amassed 243 with opener Dean Robinson scoring 105 and Dion Ibrahim adding 101 at No 3.
Wairarapa were 3-51 at stumps but yesterday was rained out with the hosts claiming a first-innings victory.
Hawke Cup qualifiers are played to earn the right to minor association supremacy in New Zealand cricket.