Team confident after draw

SURVIVAL: Daemon Kennett (left) celebrated this wicket off Nick Harding on Saturday, but it was with the bat that he most helped his team on Sunday. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

A fighting century from their remaining batsman and stoic defence from the brave No10 saw Horowhenua-Kapiti barely hang on after Active Physio Wanganui spent a full day in the field to nearly complete an innings hammering at Victoria Park on Sunday evening.

Having amassed an excellent 349-9 declared on the Saturday and then had the visitors in tatters at 151 all out on the rain-affected second afternoon, Wanganui enforced the follow-on giving Horowhenua-Kapiti just over four hours to try and survive or surpass the 198 runs remaining.

After wrapping up the first innings, paceman Ross Kinnerley was again in excellent touch as he shattered the stumps of the top order, including getting Dion Sanson first ball after he had made a reasonable dig first up.

From 58-4, all hope fell on Matt Fowler, who has made good scores against Wanganui, and after losing opener Matthew Good (31), he would trudge on with the tailenders, eventually being unbeaten on 108 from 167 balls - hitting the boundary that took his team past the total right at the close of play.

But he had been running out of partners, until in stepped Daemon Kennett, and the Levin youngster survived no less than 130 deliveries, all bowled with the intent of claiming him, in a stone-wall nine not out.

"You can't take it away from two of their guys," said Wanganui coach Stuart Gillespie. "We should have won but we didn't."

Kinnerley would finish with 6-65 as part of a nine-wicket haul from the match.

After bowling a long spell, he took a short rest before returning to try and prise Fowler and Kennett out of their crease, but the pair held firm.

Gillespie said allrounder Nick Harding deserved better from his 16 overs, having created chances, including getting Fowler to fall into a trap; however, the ball was dropped at the boundary.

Gillespie said the team was very tired at the close of play, coming from 50 over cricket to spending over 10 hours at the ground, if you include the rain delay.

So, while Wanganui missed three more competition points for outright victory, they can take a lot of confidence from the seven they banked for the first innings, with their first innings total being easily the biggest of all three Hawke Cup games played at the weekend.

Key was wicket-keeper Chris Sharrock's inspiring 104 not out, striking 15 boundaries, in a case where, unlike some of the top order, his concentration matched his timing and confidence.

Gillespie said it was that confidence the team had to take into the New Year and their next match - a tough ask against Manawatu in Palmerston North on January 16-17.

Gillespie said the team was disappointed not to finish it off, but they have a self-belief that they can play.