Cricket: Bay show depth in Chapple Cup

DESPATCHED: Bay batsman Ajaz Patel sends another delivery into orbit as Wairarapa's Jesse Ryder anticipates a catch at first slip. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

IT was raining fours and sixes and there's no spin to this yarn as the Hawke's Bay senior men's representative cricket team won their first Chapple Cup match in Napier yesterday.

It was the sort of bolshy batting one comes to expect from the likes of Jesse Ryder but yesterday's cameo belonged to the Pay Excellence-sponsored Bay cricketer Ajaz Patel.

The 26-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, who came in at No 9 against Trust House Wairarapa at Nelson Park No 3, helped boost the hosts' total to 347-9 in 50 overs of the annual Central Districts one-day inter-district tournament.

The Colin Schaw-coached side then skittled Wairarapa for 125 runs in 25.5 overs for a 223-run victory.

Patel scored a game-high 72 runs from 38 balls, including five boundaries and sixes each, in his 36-minute occupation of the crease.

"It was in the latter overs and I picked off a few runs so I guess it was my lucky day," the batsmen said modestly.

However, he gave insight on how he and fellow Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags squad members were reaping the benefits of toiling hard in the major association domestic cricket environment.

"We're learning to strike the ball away cleanly because the dynamics of the game is changing so it was quite pleasing to do it today," he said.

Nevertheless, Patel was quick to lavish praise on fellow Bay batsmen Matt Edmondson, 46 runs at No 3, for showing patience after openers Indika Senarathne and captain Jacob Smith came and went cheaply.

However, it was No 7 Scott Schaw and No 8 GC Pretorius who laid the ideal platform for Patel to launch his missiles.

Wicketkeeper Schaw also scored a 69 from 67 balls, including four boundaries and heaving five over the ropes, albeit at a sedate and sensible pace over 102 minutes before Wairarapa skipper Gordon Resima trapped him leg before wicket with his medium-paced delivery.

South African import spinner Pretorius added 56 runs to the cause from 65 balls and deftly threaded fielders for seven fours in 84 minutes before falling to Ryder, caught Brad Schumulian.

Patel said the opposition had bowled with some conviction, especially Stag seamer Seth Rance and Ryder.

"Seth was shaping it quite nicely. He's a white-ball specialist so that's why he's so successful," he said, adding it was a little disappointing Schaw and Pretorius couldn't hang around until the end to wrap up the innings although they richly deserved to.

The brittle middle-order of Bay was exposed with Rupert Young and Angus Schaw failing to find any footing against Daniel Ingham while New Zealand under-19 rep Christian Leopard didn't have the measure of right-arm medium/fast bowler Stefan Hook-Sporry.

Pretorius also claimed a five-wicket bag, including Ryder's for 34 runs, after newly contracted CD opening seamer Blair Tickner softened up the top-order batsmen for three wickets.

"Ticks, in particular, was hostile and got a few balls to climb to the batsmen's ribcage. GC bowled well and got the ball to turn a little," he said, making it difficult for Wairarapa batsmen to ponder whether to play a ball or let it go.

Patel also lauded CD seamer Andrew Mathieson and Liam Dudding.

The wind, he said, was always a factor at Nelson Park this time of the year but it hadn't influenced the game much.

The Bay play Nelson, who beat Horowhenua-Kapiti by 123 runs, today on wicket No 2.

Defending champions Manawatu crushed Whanganui by eight wickets while Taranaki also hammered Marlborough by the same result in what is shaping up to be a humdinger of a weekend on who claims the bragging rights.