Mark Fraser was unbeaten on 103 at the close of play on Sunday.
Mark Fraser was unbeaten on 103 at the close of play on Sunday.
A very strong fight by Treadwell Gordon Wanganui was not enough to prevent Manawatu eking out the barest of first innings points victories at Manawaroa Park on Sunday.
Ultimately, Wanganui's middle to lower order could not quite able to lead the team through to the magic 300 mark on Saturday,which was looking a very strong possibility at 200-4 after the returning Ben Smith led the way with 61, while injured veteran Dominic Rayner reached down to pull out a fighting 41, supported by a series of 20's and 30's from the rest of the Top 6.
However, Manawatu reasserted themselves as Ray Toole took 6-72 to leave Wanganui short of maximum batting bonus points at 233-9, and it was only a fighting 10th wicket stand by Ross Kinnerley (36no) with Collegiate schoolboy Ben Kelt, a talented allrounder but with no pretences yet of batting well at this level, which saw them through to a middling 270.
Manawatu reached 171-4 at the close of play, before Wanganui fought back in the morning session and seemed likely to repeat their first innings points victory of January when the home side were in trouble at 202-7.
However, Logan McHardy (83) carried through Thomas Kuggelelijn (22) and then Dane Watson (18) to creap closer to the target, and although Wanganui got the remaining batsman and allrounder to leave Manawatu 251-9, Toole entered and held his nerve for a priceless 16 not out.
Watson and Toole ran back-to-back singles off bowler Akash Gill to see their side past Wanganui's total, with the innings closing ten runs later at 281.
In reply, Wanganui were defiant with their best innings in two seasons, reaching 259-5 in 61 overs by the close of play, on the back of two brilliant centuries by Smith (102 from 101 balls) and a stunning return to form for Mark Fraser (103 not out).
They will be the first names added to the Wanganui Honour Board for a batting performance since current Manawatu player Henry Collier's century in 2014.
