Cricket: Bay stutter but soldier on

They skittled the opposition for 92 runs in the first innings but no one said Hawke Cup matches are ever going to be a stroll in the park.

In fact, the Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men yesterday had to overcome their jangled nerves - sitting at 4 for 40-odd runs in their second dig - before hitting the home straight at Nelson Park, Napier.

All said and done, the Lincoln Doull-coached Bay outfit collected the maximum 10 points in their first qualifying game against Horowhenua-Kapiti in the summer of 2012-13.

Asked to explain why they couldn't repeat the first-innings effort to pull the stumps early yesterday, Doull replied: "The pitch flattens out a little and changes from day one to two."

The former Wellington first-class player said the Ewen Thompson-coached visitors, who had a predominantly youthful look about them, had played well as the game progressed and the ball got worn out to put on a 100-run lead in their second innings yesterday.

Having won the toss, Bay skipper Jacob Smith elected to roll their arms on Saturday with great effect in 39.3 overs.

No 8 Craig Gaylard had the highest score of 18 runs for Horowhenua-Kapiti as Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys (NTOB) seamer Liam Rukuwai ripped through 3-17 from 10 overs, including six maidens.

Club mate Stevie Smidt was also on his game, taking 3-22 from six overs, including two scoreless overs.

Lindisfarne College pupil and Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall bowler Jack Arnall claimed 2-13 from six overs, including a maiden, on debut for the senior men.

In reply, the hosts were 254 all out early yesterday in 72.3 overs, adding only four runs after they were 250-9 at stumps on Saturday.

Cornwall's Smith opened with 58 runs while club mate and left-hander Jayden Waters, carved up 50 on debut.

Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags squad member Smidt, showing his allround ability once more after honing his skills in England over winter, was unbeaten on 42.

Ex-CD representative opening seamer Thompson claimed 4-77 from 28 overs, including five maidens while Gaylard amiably matched his skipper's workload with 4-71 from 17 overs.

In the second innings, Horowhenua-Kapiti put up a better fight to be 210 all out in 76.3 overs with Thompson showing his young charges how it's done with 85 runs batting No 6. Murray Fowler contributed 50.

Rukuwai claimed 2-25 from 19 overs, including a staggering 19 overs while Smidt chimed in with 2-51 from 15 overs, including four maidens.

CD squad member and left-arm orthodox spinner Ajaz Patel, playing for Taradale, took 2-51 from 16 overs, including three maidens, on an effectively benign wicket.

Smith collected 2-15 from seven overs, including two maidens.

In reply, No 3 Michael Taiaroa anchored the wobble with 27 not out.

The Bay play Wanganui here in three weeks in their next cup qualifier.

Doull said CD rep Andrew Mathieson bowled well, too, but although he got one wicket quite often the balls were too good for the batsmen.

"They were watching him quite closely on Saturday," he said delighted with how his bowling attack performed at the weekend.

Reflecting on the shudder yesterday in the second dig, Doull said: "They [Horowhenua-Kapiti] got one or maybe two overs the umpires after they got a wicket in the first over.

"If the DRS [TV replay] was available we would have used it," he said with a laugh, believing a ball appealed as feathered to the wicketkeeper wasn't so.

However, he reconciled that as cricket where decisions could go either way.

Doull said Horowhenua would be quite happy with their efforts and should claim victory at some stage this summer if they continued in that vein.

"While 5-20 was disappointing it gives us something to work on," he said, happy with the fielding and catches.