Despite injury and lack of form, veteran Dominic Rayner came in and did his job for Wanganui in their first innings on Saturday.
It was a disappointed Treadwell Gordon Wanganui who drove home from Manawaroa Park yesterday, knowing they played the better cricket but were not rewarded in their narrow first innings points loss to Manawatu.
Wanganui's batsmen scored a much faster run rate than the home side in their two innings, but gave away wickets at crucial times on Saturday, otherwise they would have posted the daunting 300 for maximum batting bonus points.
Although Manawatu recovered from early wicket losses to be settled at 171-4 by stumps, Wanganui fought for every wicket on Sunday morning, with Ross Kinnerley (3-59) and Connor O'Leary (2-34), along with Akash Gill (2-71), in excellent form.
In the end, Wanganui were undone by the same South African-born Australian who wrecked their batting innings with his six-for, as 20-year-old Ray Toole came in at No11 and survived 36 deliveries while sharing in a 30-run partnership with No10 Dane Watson.
They saw see their team from 251-9 to passing 270 – with Manawatu having taken over 10 overs more than Wanganui to reach the mark.
"We were the better side, there's no doubt about it," said Warren Marr.
"We just bowled so well, and put them under pressure.
"That was the only wish we had, [for] a spinner. But the pace bowlers put down the dot balls.
"Ben Smith dropped the easiest catch you've ever seen at mid on.
"He fell asleep. They needed nine runs [for first innings]. It was like an underarm throw."
Devastated by his miss, Smith went out in a fury for Wanganui's second innings to whack 102 at over a run-a-ball, as the visitors were going at eight runs an over with the eye to setting a quick total for the home side to chase.
Smith hit 16 boundaries and two sixes.
Marr said he was then disappointed that Manawatu, who had Wanganui at 27-2 at one point, went totally defensive with fielders back on the boundary and a slow rate, denying the visitors the chance to set them a sporting declaration for both sides to chase outright victory.
At dinner break, with only 48 overs remaining and Mark Fraser having reached 50, Marr made the call for the veteran to just focus on getting a well deserved century, with Manawatu more than happy to come off around 6pm when this was achieved.
Fraser also struck 16 boundaries, with skipper Simon Badger (23) playing support.
As well as Smith, Fraser, and the bowlers, Marr praised veteran Dominic Rayner for his good batting on day one – as picked solely on reputation he filled a hole at the top of the order and was unlucky to miss out on a 50.
However, again it was shot selections that cost Wanganui, as from a perch of 200-4 scored in good time with a team triple century in sight, Wanganui did not consolidate.
The likes of Matt Simes and Nick Harding quickly flayed the bowling with boundaries but then got caught out for less than 20, which exposed the tail.
Still, overall Wanganui have now firmly tested Taranaki and Manawatu and are actually playing better than 12 months ago when they were assisted by games being rain-shortened.
"In previous years, that second innings we could have gone out and lost it with 150," said Marr.
"We're being more positive, because you can on these surfaces."
Wanganui's next match is at home against Horowhenua Kapiti on December 16-17, which will be a weekend later than the two other Furlong Cup games for round 3.
Of the current playing group, the only new addition is likely to be United's Matthew Boswell, now home from university, who gives top order and wicket keeping options.
"[Thomas] Walshe's struggling at the top of the order," said Marr.
In the other Furlong Cup game on the weekend, Taranaki destroyed Wairarapa by an innings and 132 runs at Pukekura Park, scoring 402-4 declared and bowling the visitors out twice for 92 and 177.
Scoreboard
Wanganui 1st innings
T Walshe b Toole 8
B Smith lbw Toole 63
D Rayner ct Cleaver b Kuggelelijn 41
M Fraser st Cleaver b Richards 24
S Badger ct Cleaver b Kuggelelijn 29
M Simes ct McHardy b Toole 19
A Gill ct Davidson b Toole 2
N Harding ct Hughes b Toole 18
R Kinnerley not out 36
T Hemi ct Gleeson b Toole 5
B Kelt ct Kuggelelijn b Collier 5
Extras: 20
Total: 270 (65.5 overs).
Bowling: R Toole 20 overs, 7 maidens, 72 runs, 6 wickets; J Gleeson 6-0-38-0, T Kuggelelijn 11-1-52-2, D Watson 14-5-25-0, T Richards 14-2-57-1, H Collier 0.5-0-9-1.
Manawatu 1st innings
M Hughes ct Badger b Gill 0
B Cleaver b Kinnerley 6
H Collier ct Simes b O'Leary 20
D Meiring ct Simes b Kinnerley 56
B Small b Harding 33
L McHardy ct Harding b Gill 83
S Davidson b Kinnerley 3
T Richards ct Simes b Badger 6
T Kuggelelijn lbw O'Leary 21
D Watson ct Fraser b Hemi 18
R Toole not out 16
Extras: 19
Total: 281 (79.1 overs).
Bowling: A Gill 20-3-71-2, R Kinnerley 23-4-59-3, S Badger 12-0-59-1, C O'Leary 11-4-34-2, N Harding 6-0-18-1, T Hemi 3.1-1-10-1, B Kelt 3-0-14-0, M Fraser 1-0-1-0.
Wanganui 2nd innings
T Walshe ct Cleaver b Toole 9
B Smith st Cleaver b Watson 102
D Rayner ct Cleaver b Gleeson 3
M Fraser not out 103
N Harding ct Toole b Richards 7
S Badger ct Davidson b Kuggelelijn 23
R Kinnerley not out 5
Extras: 7
Total: 259-5 (61 overs).
Bowling: R Toole 10-1-37-1, J Gleeson 4-0-32-1, T Kuggelelijn 14-3-72-1, H Collier 11-1-38-0, T Richards 12.0-1-49-1, D Watson 10-4-28-1.
Result: Manawatu win on first innings.