Cricket: Hawke's Bay send Wairarapa packing early in one-sided Furlong Cup clash in Napier

Bayley Wiggins (left), captain Bradley Schmulian and debutant Harry Young after Hawke's Bay beat Wairarapa in the Furlong Cup match at Nelson Park, Napier, today. Photo/Duncan Brown

The underlying formula to winning red-ball cricket is to snap up 20 wickets and, in between, accrue a decent total to keep the opposition twice at the batting crease.

No doubt, with the heat wave forecast this weekend Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative captain Bradley Schmulian would have wanted the job done in pretty smart time.

The hosts did just that, skittling a depleted Wairarapa for 155 runs in 63.5 overs in the first innings before putting them to the sword again for 102 in 25.1 overs in the second dig to claim an outright victory at Nelson Park, Napier, today.

"We definitely had our minds on the heat today so we didn't want to stay out there much longer because the pitch was going to dry up and get better," said the 28-year-old, after he won the toss and elected to bowl in relatively bearable climes yesterday.

Schmulian led by example on debut as skipper, carving up a brisk, unbeaten 114 runs from 118 balls, including 15 boundaries and a six for a don't-argue 4-31in 61.5 overs in between the demolition of the visitors.

The fifth century for Bay men was the measure of the Central Districts Stags cricketer who posted a double ton in his Plunket Shield debut in November 2017.

However, Bayley Wiggins also chimed in with 110 runs from 165 deliveries, including 11 fours for his maiden century for the Bay.

Fellow teenage opener Harry Young, on debut, scored 59 runs from 75 balls, including 10 boundaries, to also put his hand up to show he belonged at the Furlong Cup level in the Bay's quest to earn the right to become the Zone 2 challengers for the Hawke Cup, the symbol of minor cricket supremacy in the country, from March 1-3.

"He was quite nervous before that so it was quite a great start," Schmulian said.

However, they first have to play Manawatu in Palmerston North in round five on February 16-17, which will be a sterner test to gauge their worth.

Already missing four seasoned batsmen in Liam Burling (injury), Mark Childs (contemplating retirement), Robbie Speers (unavailable) and allrounder Jaco Vorster (work), the Neil Perry-coached Wairarapa team did well to get to lunch before they were mercifully bundled out shortly after 2pm.

Bay new-ball seamer Liam Dudding was outstanding, taking 3-16 from 13 overs, including seven maidens, in the first innings before backing it up with 3-24 from seven overs in the second one.

CD Stag Christian Leopard took 2-17 but Jayden Lennox showed his class despite taking only 1-26 from 15 overs, including eight maidens, in the first dig. Leopard claimed 2-30 in the second innings but opening seamer Ben Stoyanoff was the standout with 4-22 from 10 overs, including four maidens.

"We played really well and ticked all the boxes so we're happy with a job done well," he said.

Schmulian agreed Manawatu would be a different ball game all together but he suspected the Bay were heading in the right direction after today.

Wairarapa wicketkeeper Jack Forrester, at No 7, was the only resistance with the bat in the first dig with an unbeaten 81 from 140 balls, including 14 fours. He found some support from captain Daniel Ingham and Anthony Sprowson, who contributed 20 runs each.

Sprowson again delivered 30 runs at No 9 to leave No 11 Peter Sigversten stranded on 30 in the second innings.