Cricket: Hawke's Bay men defy odds for crucial cup points

Hawke's Bay spinner GC Pretorius claimed six wickets in two innings against Whanganui at the weekend. Photo/file

Rain played silly buggers but it had underestimated the resolve of the Hawke's Bay senior men's representative cricket team in Whanganui at the weekend.

"We got full bonus points but lost a whole session [on Saturday], 39 overs, which cost us five [points], which is a real shame," said Craig Ross, the interim coach of the Pay Excellence-sponsored Bay team who eked out a first-innings victory away over Whanganui at Victoria Park.

In doing so, the Bay (46 points) leapfrogged Taranaki (40) on the table in the race to earn the right to be the Central Districts early leaders to challenge for the Hawke Cup.

That means a favourable result in the Bay v Manawatu game at Nelson Park, Napier, in a fortnight will be crucial after Taranaki lost to Manawatu by first innings at the weekend.

Because Taranaki play Horowhenua-Kapiti in the last round it's imperative Bay claim first-innings points again.

"It's game on so we just have to play good cricket," said Ross as the Bay men try to keep the tradition alive in challenges.

It was a testing batting strip for the visitors after the hosts won the toss and chose to bowl. Rain overnight had seeped on to the block.

Opener James Field went out on 92 runs and No 3 Dean Foxcroft on 90 at first drop.

Ross said both would rue that lapse of concentration as the Bay declared at 362-7 in their first innings.

They then skittled Whanganui for 205 although one batsman retired hurt. They then enforced a follow on before the hosts dug their toes in for 118-7 as Bay ran out of time after losing a further hour yesterday morning which curtailed 129 overs of play.

Ross lauded the Bay spinners for predictably thriving on the wicket.

GC Pretorius claimed six wickets in both digs while Jayden Lennox took three.

"We had only 46 overs to try to bowl them out," said Ross, adding bowlers were rotated a lot.

The collective energy, he said, was outstanding yesterday afternoon in a bid to claim 20 wickets.

"Every ball was 100 per cent effort right through in very hot conditions. It was humid and the guys toiled all day."

While disappointed not to claim maximum points Ross said it wasn't for a lack of trying.
Even he donned whites to field for almost 90 minutes after Foxcroft had injured his calf muscle.

"I put the whites on because Ben Stoyanoff needed a rest after he bowled really beautifully but he's pretty cooked at the moment," he said of Stoyanoff who knocked off the top three in the second innings, including CD opener Ben Smith for a duck.

"It was tough out there with the boys but I really enjoyed it," said Ross with a laugh.