Cricket: Bay earn right to Hawke Cup challenge

COMING THROUGH: Bay seamer Charlie Robson delivers as Wairarapa century maker Liam Burling backs up at Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

COACH Colin Schaw sounded cool as a cucumber but that sense of composure didn't surface until about 5.30pm last night in Ongaonga.

"We're through for a challenge so we're over the moon, hopefully, against Bay of Plenty," Schaw said after they pulled the pin against Wairarapa at Forest Gate Domain for a first-innings victory to earn the right to challenge for the Hawke Cup in a fortnight.

BOP were yesterday 12 runs from creating history - again - at stumps on day two of the three-day cup challenge against Counties Manukau in Mount Maunganui.

At 690-9, should they bat on today, the cup holders can eclipse the record total of 701 they set to take the bragging rights of minor union supremacy off Hamilton in the summer of 2012-13.

Counties Manukau captain Barry Rhodes, who elected to bowl, used 10 bowlers, including himself at Bay Oval.

However, at the domain, the Jacob Smith-captained Bay men were celebrating at the clubrooms yesterday.

Having won the toss on Saturday, the hosts shone the ball in their quest for 20 wickets and an outright result with an eye on second-placed Taranaki in the Furlong Cup qualifiers to become CD's challengers.

However, Wairarapa didn't make it easy, with No 3 Liam Burling's 116 not out helping them post 313 runs.

"Liam batted extremely well but, to be fair, we didn't bowl the right channels on a flattish deck on which you had to bowl pretty straight and in Onga."

Schaw said his men grassed seven catches all over the park.

"I'm just hoping that this is the game we've got rid of our worst catching."

In the chase, Bay lost their openers lbw to Jared Watt before No 3 Matt Edmondson entered the Bay history books with 229 runs before debutant Ethan Childs claimed his wicket, caught Dean van Deventer.

Wicketkeeper Edmondson's 193-ball occupation included 27 boundaries and seven sixes to become only the sixth batsman from the province to score a double century in a cup qualifier.
The others are:

JL Paterson (1923-24) 201 v Waiapu.

Tom Reaney (1946-47) 299 v Wairarapa.

Mike Shrimpton (1967-68) 205no v Marlborough.

Jason Pawley (1997-98) 204 v Hutt Valley.

James de Terte (2010-11) 201no v Whanganui.

Schaw said James Field (36) and fellow opener Smith (28) had set the tone for a total of 469-4.

Yesterday morning's plan was to consolidate the loss of the pair's wickets to keep Wairarapa out on the field on a scorching day.

No 5 Brad Schmulian's 118 not out from 117 deliveries, including 15 boundaries, was a godsend.

"Matt's innings was absolutely superb. I think he only gave a half chance on 98. It was a real first-class innings [yesterday]," he said, adding Edmondson was knocking on CD's door.

"Heinrich certainly knows that he is there but I'm not saying to give him a go but he's putting his hand up."

With the first-class Plunket Shield competition to resume this month and the international calendar kicking in the Stags will lose players.

"Hey he's just got to keep scoring runs because that's what it's all about."

Schmulian put on a 230-partnership, also earning accolades from Schaw, playing on the deck and all over the park.

"What Brad did was extremely good."

With opening seamer Liam Dudding called in to the CD team and a spate of other bowlers such as Ben Stoyanoff and allrounder Christian Leopard injured, Schaw said Charlie Robson, Jayden Lennox and GC Pretorius stood up well.

"I'm just pleased for the guys because they have worked so hard for a challenge.

"Jacob has captained the side superbly as he has for the past two seasons."

The 12 who will go to Mt Maunganui in a fortnight for the challenge, Schaw said, would have an opportunity to display their dexterity in front of the CD selectors again.