Cricket: Sinclair ton seals semi

Mathew Sinclair runs under fielding pressure. Photo / Paul Taylor

But rain means long wait for final

It's a case of not only do as a player/coach says but emulate his feat, too.

That's what Mathew Sinclair projected in the Chapple Cup tournament after carving up an unbeaten 125 in Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's 70-run semifinal victory over Taranaki at Nelson Park, Napier, on Saturday.

"When you're a player/coach I suppose you have a different kind of pressure so the younger players can look on so, hopefully, the guys will have learned from the way I applied myself," Sinclair said after the final against Manawatu yesterday was postponed to a yet-to-be-decided date later this summer.

The Central Districts' inter-district tourney followed the script for two days but rain kicked in yesterday with all teams hitting the highway home in the morning, bar Nelson and Marlborough who had to wait for their flights in the evening.

HBCA coaching development manager Dale Smidt said the Bay and Manawatu had agreed to play knowing they were going to miss the services of their CD Stags.

Sinclair said while the Bay had booked a final his young bowlers had learned a lesson and got a taste of what it was like for anyone aspiring to become a first-class player.

Naki CD batsman Will Young, returning from the NZ XI match in Lincoln, Christchurch, spanked the young seamers in his 66 runs, prompting a pep talk on what would happen had the bowlers not put the ball in the right areas.

CD spinner Patel snared Young to keep his tourney form consistent with 3-35 from 10 overs but Black Cap Doug Bracewell was frugal with 2-11 from six.

However, the Bay fielding wasn't that sharp and that is not reflected in some of the bowlers' figures.

A competitive 279 against an attacking side pleased Sinclair with Luke Kenworthy (44 runs) and Kieran Noema-Barnett (39) contributing.

The Bay's focus will turn to the Wanganui fixture next month in Napier in a bid to take the minor association bragging rights off Hawke Cup holders Manawatu.

"We don't want the team to rely on Barney, Ajaz or myself all the time," Sinclair said.