Cricket: Captain cool in Bay's comfortable win

CAPTAIN'S KNOCK: Jacob Smith scored a century as Hawke's Bay opened their Furlong Cup campaign in convincing fashion at the weekend. PHOTO/FILE

Captain Jacob Smith celebrated his return to full health with a century as the Hawke's Bay senior cricket team took an early lead in Central Districts Furlong Cup competition at the weekend.

Smith scored 102 off 125 balls including 13 fours before he was bowled out during Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay's one innings and 63 runs first round victory against Horowhenua-Kapiti at Napier's Nelson Park. A lower shin injury restricted Smith's duties during the Bay's previous outing against Bay of Plenty at Tauranga during the weekend.

"I'm very happy and it's good to see the guys getting runs at the top of the order," said Hawke's Bay coach Colin Schaw.

His troops declared after scoring 375 for three off 69 overs in their first innings. Horowhenua-Kapiti scored 134 for 10 off 44.4 overs during their first innings and 178 for 10 off 56.5 overs in their second.

Along with Smith's century the other batting highlight for the Bay was Havelock North opening batsman's James Field's 60 on debut. It came off 97 balls and included nine fours.

Field is home for the holidays from Waikato University.

Rupert Young also had nine fours on his way to a 74 off 120 balls before he was caught. Former Auckland A representative Bradley Schmulian proved his move to the Bay was the right one with 66 not out off 57 balls.

"We've certainly got some depth now. A lot of guys have been working hard in the nets and it shows," Schaw said.

South African legspinner GC Preterious took six wickets when he spearheaded the Hawke's Bay attack during the first innings.

"Everyone else contributed in a manner which made everything work well," Schaw said.

With 10 points from the fixture Hawke's Bay have a seven-point lead over Manawatu who they will take on in Palmerston North on the weekend of November 26 and 27. Manawatu's fixture against Wairarapa in Palmy at the weekend was rained out.

"While it's a good cushion to have it's important we continue to work hard between now and then," Schaw added.

His squad are injury-free. Because of the rep fixture at the weekend Hawke's Bay's Property Brokers T20 premier club fixtures were played on Friday.

Schmulian's Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North team beat Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay by 80 runs, Big Barrel Napier Technical Old Boys beat Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall by 22 runs and The Station Napier Old Boys Marist beat You Travel Taradale by nine runs.