Central Stags player Oscar Mabin hit 44 in the second innings for Whanganui to deny Hawke's Bay an outright win. Photo / Kiwi TV
Jurgens Demolition Whanganui’s hopes of an historic Furlong Cup victory now rely on matches between other teams as a Pay Excellence Hawke’s Bay team pushed to their limit secured first-innings points at Tasman Tanning Victoria Park on Sunday.
But the relief was palpable from the visitors on the pavilion terrace around 11.30am, as with only three wickets left in the bank, they managed to surpass Whanganui’s low 200-run total from Saturday.
Hopes of then bowling out Whanganui again for a quick run chase for an outright win – stock standard in previous seasons – were denied as the home side batted into the final hour of play, despite skipper Tom Dempster not padding up due to having come down with illness overnight.
Shaun O’Leary took back the captaincy for the day, and bravely wore several lifting deliveries on the body from Central Districts Stags contracted pace bowler Tyler Annand, while veterans Nick Harding (72), Ben Smith (66) and hard-hitting Stags incumbent Oscar Mabin (44 not out) put the home side well ahead and out of further danger.
Mabin (3-50) and O’Leary, along with older brother Connor O’Leary (2-40) and the returning Ross Kinnerley, had been the main hopes for securing the upset in a tense morning session after Hawke’s Bay had an uneasy night – resuming at 141-6 and still needing 60 runs to get ahead of the hosts, who were eyeing up five straight first-innings victories.
While Mabin removed set batsman Todd Watson (20) with a nick behind in the second over to set local blood pumping, Hawke’s Bay’s sole remaining all-rounder Bayley Latter (65 not out) rose to the moment, coming out at No 8 in the order.
With Charlie Robson at the other end providing stonewall defence with 31 from 105 balls, Latter went on the attack – hooking Mabin’s bouncers for two boundaries to give the batsmen confidence, as they put on what proved the decisive 83-run partnership to get their team into pole position.
Hawke’s Bay finished 71 runs ahead, but the sight of a Whanganui side still dismissing the powerhouses for less than 300 – and exerting so much pressure as a bowling and fielding group that at one stage the visitors were cheering singles – has not happened in decades.
It proved Latter’s day, as he took 3-50 in Whanganui’s second innings in the role of attacking spinner, covering for Hawke’s Bay’s other top Stags player, Bradley Schmulian, who took 4-33 on Saturday but had suffered a back strain and did not return to the crease.
Having lost the toss and being put in to bat for what has proved bowler-friendly conditions in the first sessions on Victoria’s reconstituted No 1 pitch these past two seasons, Whanganui batted ably against Hawke’s Bay’s professional-quality tight bowling and aggressive fields.
But unfortunately, after playing themselves in, the likes of Harding (42), Smith (27), Connor Rees (37) and Carter Hobbs (36) just could not crack on for the important anchor innings. Under pressure from Schmulian, Robson (2-30) and fellow pace bowler Todd Watson (2-38), the lower order collapsed with some rash shot selections as six wickets fell for 40 runs.
While Whanganui have experienced plenty of collapses against Hawke’s Bay before, the bowling group refused to accept the inevitable and give up another mammoth total in reply.
Right from Mabin achieving the early dismissal of Taylor Bettelheim, who had scored 203 on the same pitch the previous season, Whanganui did not let Hawke’s Bay’s top order settle either, only Jonathan Whitley (32) getting past the twenties.
Coach Warren Marr could only express his pride that for perhaps the first time in 13 Furlong Cup seasons, Whanganui had given Hawke’s Bay a battle in every session.
“The disappointing thing for us as a group was to be 160-4 and then bowled out for 200.
“But when you reflect on that, it also gave us an opportunity to bowl at them last night and to get them six down, which we wouldn’t have had [on that pitch] if we batted longer.
“Great effort and the bowlers really stood up for us.
“When I look at the bowling attacks that we’ve faced this season and compare them to ours, especially our seamers, as a group and with Harry [Burroughs] in the wings as well, we’ve probably got the best seam attack going at the moment.”
Now with a 4-1 record, Whanganui collected some bonus points, but still need either the weather gods or something special from Whitaker Civil Taranaki and WBS Wairarapa to deny Hawke’s Bay their sixth Furlong Cup in eight seasons.
“We’ll be watching closely to see what happens, but the better side won this weekend,” said Marr.
“But for the first time, I’m so proud that we competed with these guys and put them under pressure, like serious pressure – I know that last night they were feeling a little bit squeaky about the whole thing.
“They’ve communicated that to me too. It’s healthy for Central Districts that sides can compete, and I’m just so proud of the whole team really.”
Scoreboard, January 10-11
Furlong Cup
Whanganui 1st Innings: 200 (67.3 overs)
Hawke’s Bay 1st Innings: 271 (78.4 overs)
Whanganui 2nd Innings: 226-7 (57 overs)
Result: Match drawn, Hawke’s Bay wins 1st innings points