Cricket: Langridge finds mojo after four years to lift cup

It was almost 30 years since the picturesque Cornwall Park hosted a senior provincial representative men's match.

Yesterday the late showers almost put paid to a nostalgic trip down memory lane as the Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's team beat Poverty Bay by 30 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis Method to retain the annual 50-over Kirk Cup.

With coach Lincoln Doull away in Auckland for family matters, HBCA administrator Dale Smidt stepped in for the side that had the speed wobbles chasing the visitors' target of 207-4 in 50 overs.

At one stage, the hosts were three wickets for three runs before No 6 batsman/wicketkeeper Seb Langridge forged a partnership with fellow Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall premier club teammate Michael Taiaroa at No 3 to get the Bay to 200-7 in 41 overs before it started bucketing down at 5.31pm.

Langridge was unbeaten on 85, carving up 13 boundaries while Taiaroa scored 40, including eight fours.

No 8 Angus Schaw chimed in with 40 as well, including six fours and a lusty six.

The Jacob Smith-led Bay team, who won the Chapple Cup last month, were predominantly without their rash of CD players.

In Poverty Bay's innings, after they won the toss and chose to bat, brothers Sam Tallott, an opener, was 80 not out with 11 boundaries and No 3 Scott Tallott scored 71 runs.

While wicket-less, Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys bowler Liam Rukuwai was the pick with 10 overs, six maidens and giving only nine runs. Smith snared 2-37.

"The two Cornwall boys got a partnership going and Seb, obviously, won the game for us.

"His cricket has said a lot of ability but he never transformed that into scores so he has today. He's played for this club [Cornwall] for four years and never scored 50 in club cricket so it's a big break for him today."

He praised Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay batsman Schaw but impressed the Bay had a lot of batting depth.

"Liam top scored for Tech in our club game yesterday [report below] and Henry Hunter, who opens batting for Central, is batting at 10," Dale said, stressing the top order who missed out could make up for it in this weekend's first Hawk Cup qualifying match.

"I'm trying not to sound arrogant here but we needed some competition for an ideal preparation for next week," he said, adding the Bay men struggled to see the red ball in the trees as it got dark with rain at a magnificent venue.