Greg Smith, picture in action last season, scored 109 not out as Treadwell Gordon Wanganui demolished Wairarapa in Sunday's Chapple Cup match in Napier.
Greg Smith, picture in action last season, scored 109 not out as Treadwell Gordon Wanganui demolished Wairarapa in Sunday's Chapple Cup match in Napier.
Centuries to openers Greg Smith and Ben Smith ended a typically tough Chapple Cup one-day campaign on a high for Treadwell Gordon Wanganui.
The pair put on a massive unbeaten 225-run partnership in 33 overs to crush Wairarapa by 10 wickets in Sunday's final match and avoid the wooden spoon.
Batting first, Wairarapa posted 221/9 before the Smith's set about a clinical chase notching up 109 each.
For Greg Smith it will be a huge boost coming into Wanganui's Hawke Cup season while Ben Smith will be pleased to take form with him when he joins the Central Districts squad ahead their season.
Wanganui coach Warren Marr said someone would have to delve into the record books to see if such a dominant opening stand had happened in Wanganui colours before.
"Certainly it's something I've never seen," he said.
Marr was pleased with how quickly his side had improved over the weekend's three games given it was the first time the players had got out on a grass pitch this season.
"We've been inside hitting tennis balls and then to come here on green seamers against professional bowling line-ups is tough," he said.
"For the smaller associations like us in some ways it's like lambs to the slaughter because we are just so out of our depth on day one."
Marr said being able to bat out the 50 overs in the first two games was a good sign.
"The young guys all contributed well, especially in the batting. For us it's about setting up our Hawke Cup (2-day)season."
In the Saturday match against Marlborough Wanganui batted first but were soon in trouble at 13/3 from 8 overs before managing to scrape through to 164/9 with Simon Badger (40) and Trey Bidois (36) top scoring.
Marlborough cruised in pursuit knocking off the total in 31 overs with only four back in the shed.
Ross Kinnerley and Badger shared the wickets for Wanganui.
On Friday Wanganui had similar struggles against Manawatu batting first and scoring 156/9 with Ben Smith (52) and Gillan Petorious (42) the top scorers.
But Manawatu chased Wanganui's total down inside 30 overs for the loss of four.
