Active Physio Wanganui's batsman provided a rare gem in their opening game of the Chapple Cup in Napier - a defendable total against the competition heavyweights.
With coaches Ian Snook and Rod Bannister not in Hawke's Bay for the opening game yesterday, while allrounder Fraser Kinnerley is injured, not toomuch could have been expected for the rebuilding Wanganui XI against a bowling attack which included Black Cap Adam Milne.
However, after a nervous start where young players John McIlraith and Dominic Lock were caught behind and bowled respectively, professional Ben Smith was joined by veteran Mark Fraser at the windy pitch and began to rebuild the innings.
From 34-2, Smith (75 from 96 balls) and Fraser took Wanganui through to 191-3 heading into the final 10 overs, after they started watchfully and then both launched into the Manawatu attack, swatting sixes before Smith was caught on the boundary.
"It was a real good partnership, they gave no chances whatsoever," said manager Justin Lock.
"It was the power play in the 35th over. We knew they had Milne to bowl the last six overs so we wanted to get going before then."
Keeping wickets in hand was key to this plan and for the first time in a long time, Wanganui's batsmen were in the position they intended. After Smith's departure, Jono Steward and Dominic Rayner came in and tried to keep the run rate going but fell quickly to good deliveries from pace bowler Isaac Harris.
But young wicketkeeper Todd Inness (19no) dug in with Fraser, who batted through unbeaten on 109 from 120 balls, including eight boundaries and four sixes to lead his team, with fresh bowlers, to 246-5.
"We had a good team meeting this morning and we talked about our top six batsmen going 50 overs," said Lock.
Manawatu still appeared unfazed as they had negotiated their way through to 101-3 in the 22nd over with Black Cap Jamie How in good form and rapidly approaching his 50 after six shots to the boundary rope or over it. Sam O'Leary was a little expensive but picked up opener George Worker caught behind, then bowled Mitchell Renwick, who had become bogged down.
