Ethan Green's heroics got Taradale home in the final over of their two-day game against CHB.
Taradale’s plan had been to sit on Angus Schaw.
Set 233 in 50 overs to secure an unlikely outright win at Taradale Park, the home side thought they might get more joy from targeting the rest of Central Hawke’s Bay’s attack.
However Schaw, the regular 12th man for Central Districts this summer, is but one of a number of representative bowlers in CHB’s attack.
Taradale hadn’t won a game all season and it didn’t look like this was about to change when Schaw prepared to bowl the 50th over to Ethan Green.
In the end, Green only needed four balls to deliver Taradale a four-wicket win and prove the worth of including two-day cricket on the Hawke’s Bay premier men’s club cricket schedule.
Earlier in the day, Cornwall and Napier Technical Old Boys had romped to innings victories in their games at Nelson Park.
Instead of playing much cricket, Cornwall spent the afternoon having a barbecue to celebrate their win over Napier Old Boys’ Marist, while some of the Tech boys headed to watch proceedings at Taradale Park after thrashing Havelock North.
“It’s good to be on the right side of a result for the first time this season,” Taradale captain Luke Kenworthy said.
After conceding a 21-run first-innings lead, Taradale bowled CHB out for 211. Schaw, with 70, and Thomas Zohrab, with 64, provided the bulk of the visitors’ runs after Ben Stoyanoff had taken two quick wickets.
But, after doing a bit earlier, the second-day pitch flattened out and, to Kenworthy’s delight, began to aid his spinners. Sachin Jayawardena and Nihal Shilar both took four wickets to set up a chase that eventually finished at 6.45pm.
“I’d hope this will boost the confidence,” said Kenworthy.
“We got a first innings in the first two-day game and then batted poorly, which enabled Havelock to get an outright win.
“In this game we’ve taken all 20 wickets and had a fourth-innings chase of over 200, which is something to be pretty proud of. Going into the next fixture against Cornwall, it looks pretty vital with the way the two-day table is shaping up.”
Cornwall are atop the two-day table, with CHB, Taradale, Tech and Havelock in pursuit.
Tech hosts CHB when the next round of two-day matches start this Saturday, while Cornwall will be off to Taradale Park.
“It’s a pretty balanced comp,” Tech captain Todd Watson said.
“There’s definitely a few teams putting their hands up and it’s good to see Taradale get a win because we know they’re a very good squad and Cornwall’s been threatening to be a good team for a few years now, so they’ve got a bit of confidence.
“Havelock and CHB are always going to be there or thereabouts. They’re good units and they know how to win and I’m pretty happy with how we’re tracking.
“It’s obviously a big game coming up against CHB.”
For all of Havelock’s talent, they didn’t manage to fulfil their promise against Tech.
Trailing Tech by 190 after the first innings, Havelock were bowled out for 56 second time around. Watson took 4-13 to give him 10 wickets for the match.
“That’s the first time I’ve done that. I’ve never really had the opportunity before,” said Watson.
“It’s a bit of a weird feeling, but certainly a cool achievement to have.”
A five-wicket haul by Sussex county import George Thomas helped Cornwall bowl Marist out for 171 and complete an innings and 23-run win.
Thomas, who’s here more for his batting than his bowling, has battled to find the right line and length so far this summer.
“With George, because he plays at that higher level, he bowls a length that higher-honours sort of batters will nibble at,” Cornwall captain Bayley Wiggins said.
“The more he plays here, the more he’ll get used to bowling a fuller length at the stumps.”
Cornwall isn’t short on batting talent, but a bowler to complement swing bowler Jed Greville would be very beneficial – particularly if Greville earns regular Hawke’s Bay selection this season.
Wiggins says Hawke’s Bay coach Christie van Dyk once had a view of Greville that might need to be changed.
“Christie’s comment was that Jed couldn’t bowl a second spell,” said Wiggins.
“He was good with the new ball, but his pace comes down and [he] doesn’t run in as hard [in subsequent spells], but I think he’s shown this season the benefit of a big offseason playing in England.
“He’s a little bit fitter and he knows what he wants now.”
– This article has been provided courtesy of Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association