Wanganui outplayed in Masterton

Greg Smith top scored in both innnings for Wanganui but no-one got near enough runs to stave off an embarrassing innings defeat to the in-form Wairarapa in Masterton.

Another late afternoon rearguard action fell short for Treadwell Gordon Wanganui to the tune of an embarrassing innings defeat to Wairarapa in their last Furlong Cup match in Masterton yesterday.

Debutant teenager Ben Kelt was bowled for a brave 28 just after 5.20pm to become Ethan Childs' (3-33) sixth victim for the match, with Wanganui still eight runs short of making the hosts pad up again at 217 all out.

Their team capitulation on Saturday for 109, as medium pacer Peter Sigvertsen (6-28) ran through them in a devastating nine over spell, meant Wanganui were out fielding after less than 38 overs.

Greg Smith (23) was top scorer and the fourth wicket to fall at 51-4 in the 17th over, as the new opening combination of Matthew Boswell and Chris Stewart could not dig in, while recalled Craig Clare, wicketkeeper Matt Simes, a non-bowling Ross Kinnerley and lower order specialist batsmen John McIlraith all fell quickly.

Nick Harding (13) hit a couple of boundaries before Childs had him caught, while Thomas Walshe (16 not out) and Kelt (10) tried a rearguard stand.

Coming off the field while still fresh, the hosts made the best of their available time and exploited Wanganui's rather non-threatening bowling lineup to post 334-8 declared – led by the crucial anchor innings of Liam Burling, who stroked his way to 120 from 161 balls, with 11 boundaries and a six.

Wanganui had only five bowlers for the 82 overs they sent down, with the recalled Fraser Kinnerley (3-74) having to shoulder the most burden as Wairarapa recalled their batters after he got the last wicket to fall in his 21st over.

Needing spin and slow bowlers, Wanganui used Stewart (2-54) in that capacity as a frontliner, with Bryant Galpin (2-44) eventually catching up with Burling with a nick into Simes' gloves.

But Wairarapa got good service from their openers in Mark Childs (48) and John McKenzie (25), while Burling's stickability meant Brock Price could have a crack with a relatively quick fire 57, and then George Deans (61) took the supporting role as the century-maker carried on.

Coming back out yesterday and knowing they had to bat most of the afternoon to either see it out or at least get a few dozen runs ahead so Wairarapa would run out of time, Wanganui started well with Smith promoting himself and sharing a 59 run partnership with Boswell.

Smith would go on to reach 58 from 77 balls, but Sigvertsen got his seventh wicket in Boswell, and then Smith was caught off Price and Stewart was trapped in front by Stefan Hook.

The promoted Walshe (14), Clare (17), Simes (24) got starts in the middle order before Childs and Burling (2-17) caught up with them, while Ross Kinnerley (29) tried to hold the lower order together.

But McIlraith and Harding were gone in less than two overs each, as Kelt joined Kinnerley and attempted to bat for both time and runs, as Wanganui crept over the 200 mark and in sight of making the hosts have another go.

But Childs signed the match off as he got Kinnerley, who had batted with injections in his shoulder, and then the stumps of the youngster Kelt to end what had started as a promising season for Wanganui in ignominy.

Wairarapa finished the best of the 'minor' associations on the six team table, with Hawke's Bay likely to finish on top as they lined up first innings points against Manawatu, while Taranaki gave Horowhenua-Kapiti a big innings and 141 run thrashing.

Scoreboard

Wanganui 1st Innings: 109 (G Smith 23; P Sigvertsen 6-28, E Childs 3-29).

Wairarapa 1st Innings: 334-8 declared (L Burling 120, G Deans 61, B Price 57, M Childs 48, J McKenzie 25; F Kinnerley 3-74, B Galpin 2-44, C Stewart 2-54).

Wanganui 2nd Innings: 217 (G Smith 58, R Kinnerley 29, B Kelt 28, M Simes 24; E Childs 3-33, L Burling 2-17).

Result: Wairarapa win by an innings and eight runs.