Hawke Cup Cricket: Bay stutter but Stags stand up

It was a bona fide distraction for Hawke's Bay senior men's cricket coach Lincoln Doull in the middle of his interview last night.
"Oh, that's someone's car," Doull remarked from Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, as middle-order batsman Kieran Noema-Barnett unleashed his third lusty six with a couple of overs remaining in the final two-day Hawke Cup qualifying match against Taranaki.
However, the picture can be somewhat distorted considering the hosts had won the toss, put the Bay in to bat and had them reeling at 3-40 by the first drinks break.
While Central Districts allrounder Noema-Barnett did finish with an unbeaten 76 at stumps, his fellow Stag Brad Patton, at No 3, and No 5 Carl Cachopa were instrumental in laying the foundation for him to launch.
The Cornwall pair scored 107 and 101 respectively, to put the Bay on the front foot this morning for a declaration.
The Bay were 385-7 when the bails were lifted, with Patton mustering his runs off 233 balls and CD Plunket Shield hopeful Cachopa bringing up his total from 193 balls.
The former's innings included 10 boundaries while the latter carved up 16 and lofted one over the rope for six.
"I understand the pitch wasn't as easy to bat on as other ones this season," Doull said. "It was sort of up and down so it looked tired so the ball wasn't coming to the bat freely."
If the Bay men had hit just more than 400 by stumps, he said, declaration would have been a mere formality but perhaps a few more overs this morning to yield a few more runs would give his troops something to bowl at.
"We've got to 10 wickets because we don't want to end up with three points from a draw."
Somewhat facetiously, Doull said that would leave them tied on points with arch rivals Manawatu, who should win comfortably and claim first-innings points against Horowhenua-Kapiti, and the blokes from the other side of the Gorge will miraculously come up trumps when the abacus is pulled out on countback.
The Bay lead the race for a cup challenge on 24 points, with Wairarapa on 21, and Manawatu on 20 but needing an outright 10 points win and hoping the Bay falter or draw.
The James de Terte-led Bay side only need seven first-innings points to secure a challenge against Otago Country, who took the silverware off last season's holders, North Otago Country, a fortnight ago.
The previous round between the Bay and Manawatu ended acrimoniously amid claims from Doull that the hosts failed to place the covers at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, to make a game of it after the match was rained out.
Last night, recalled Bay rep Todd Astill and Noema-Barnett forged a partnership of 78 before the former departed for 38 runs.
Taranaki coach Alistar Jordan's bowlers had a long day with opener Mark Wales the pick, claiming four wickets off 13 overs, including a maiden, for 69 runs.
However, it is vital the Bay remove CD pair Peter Ingram and Tim Weston, and skipper Dion Ebrahim cheaply today for points.