Cricket: Death overshadows big-wicket haul

Captain Stevie Smidt dedicated his 12 wickets to Liam Rukuwai's mother, Leeanne, who died on Saturday.

Captain Stevie Smidt posted personal best figures for the Hawke's Bay senior men's representative team yesterday, but they were the last things on his and teammates' minds.

Smidt brushed aside his 12-wicket haul and the Pay Excellence-sponsored team's 10-wicket victory over Hawke Cupholders Manawatu in Palmerston North yesterday to dedicate the spoils to Leeanne Rukuwai, the mother of opening bowler Liam who died in Napier on Saturday.

"That's all I was thinking of every time I ran in to bowl. I knew her quite well and all the boys dedicated the win to her," the 25-year-old Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) allrounder said last night not long after returning from Palmy.

Rukuwai pulled out of the team when Leeanne's health deteriorated on Thursday.

The Bay and NTOB teams will attend the funeral service of Rukuwai's mother at the St Thomas More Church in Napier at midday on Wednesday. "She used to come to all the games Liam played in, whether it was in Napier or away," Smidt said.

He won the toss and chose to bowl after they arrived to rain on Friday but played on time the next day in round three of the zone 2 cup-qualifying match at Fitzherbert Park.

Smidt claimed 4-21 to skittle the hosts for 141 in 55 overs, mindful they needed an emphatic victory after succumbing to Taranaki in New Plymouth the previous round.

In reply the Bay amassed 228 in 68 overs.

Sri Lankan Indika Senarathne scored 50 with opener Graeme Tryon providing the platform with 37 runs and player/coach Mathew Sinclair adding 39.

The Michael Mason-coached Manawatu managed 118 in their second dig with Mitchell Renwick top scoring for them with 63 runs, although he was dropped at second slip on 18.3 overs.

Central Districts Stag Bevan Small got to 21 runs but the rest of the line up had figures resembling a grocery bill from a budget supermarket.

This time right-arm speed merchant Smidt claimed 8-43, although his fellow bowlers, Charlie Robson, Blair Tickner, Jeremy Kuru, Jayden Lennox and Jayden Wiggins, were all winners in the frugality stakes.

In reply the Bay eclipsed a paltry combined total with 32 runs for the loss of just one wicket. "We were disappointed with the Taranaki game. We knew we needed first-innings points and we got that so to get an outright win was just awesome," Smidt said, putting it down to a solid team effort.

The Bay recalled former representatives and NTOB players Bronson Meehan and Kuru to the fold at the weekend.

"We would have liked to have scored a few more runs but we're happy with the win," he said as the Bay keep their hopes alive for a challenge against Manawatu who don't need to win in the zone as cupholders.

It will help the cause of the Bay if Manawatu beat Taranaki in the final round on January 24 in New Plymouth.

"We can only do what we can and push for outright wins," Smidt said, hailing the performance of veteran Kuru at the weekend in a predominantly youthful side Sinclair is trying to instill confidence in so they don't rely on experienced heads.

The Bay host Horowhenua-Kapiti at Nelson Park, Napier, on January 10 in round four before inviting Wairarapa to Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga, on January 24.

Taranaki comfortably beat Horowhenua-Kapiti at Donnelley Park at the weekend, while Wanganui did the same to Wairarapa at Victoria Park.