Wanganui gets a share of the CD crown

The Wanganui Under 15 cricket team which won a share of the Central Districts title in Levin this week.

It might have been just a share of the title, but it was still an historic moment for the Ray White Wanganui Under 15 side after their Central Districts tournament final with Hawke's Bay was abandoned in a soaked Levin on Thursday.

Having won their way into the two-day final against Hawkes Bay, play on Wednesday was delayed by wet weather right through until 2pm, with the sides playing out until 7pm in very dark conditions.

Wanganui bowled Hawkes Bay out for 156 in 51 overs, with Hadleigh O'Leary taking 4-27 at Kena Kena Park.

Coach Mark Godfrey said all eight bowlers used were economical, with Joel Clark also impressing with 2-12.

In response, Wanganui had a difficult patch of around 30 minutes to bat in the fading light, but were looking steady enough at 17-0.

However, at 6.55pm, after the opening batsmen were broken up, the No3 batsman went in and lasted two balls before being dismissed, while Godfrey then sent in a night watchman to just navigate the last over, only to be out first ball.

Nonetheless, Wanganui were backing themselves to get the remaining 140 runs required for first innings points on Thursday morning, until 10mm of rain dumped at 10am on Levin, to be followed by another heavy cloud burst of 6mm at 1pm.

Therefore, play was abandoned with the CD title honours shared.

"Hawkes Bay were keener than us to go home," said Godfrey.

"Sure, we were three down. [But] the boys that were coming in, they'd scored the runs in the tournament.

"We wanted just a little protection of them [with night watchman]."

Godfrey said remaining opener Clark had shored up his end, while still waiting to get going were the likes of Harry Godfrey, Joseph Abernathy and Adam Lennox.

Harry Godfrey was averaging 90 at that stage of the tournament, Abernathy averaging 65, and Lennox had an unbeaten 50 to his name.

"At the start of the week if you'd said we needed 140 against Hawkes Bay, we would have taken that," said Mark Godfrey.

"Quietly confident that we could have done it."

The coach was still proud as discussions with the Hawkes Bay and Manawatu coaching staff suggested this was the first time that Wanganui had gotten the Central Districts Under 15 title, even if shared.

There wasn't as much to celebrate for the Ray White Wanganui U17 squad in Napier after they lost their last tournament game with Nelson by 34 runs.

Wanganui bowled Nelson out for 134 in the 55th over with their Active Physio Wanganui senior representative Akash Gill shining, taking 4-24 from his 13 overs, while the other player to make top level in Angus Dinwiddie got both openers amongst his haul of 3-22 from nine overs.

However, they succumbed to the pressure of the run chase and were bowled out for 96 at the start of the 50th over.

James Russell was looking assured until dismissed for 19 in the 11th over, and Wanganui then lost wickets at steady intervals.

Only Gill with 44 from 98 balls was desperately trying to carry his side through, but he was the last man out on a stumping, with none of his batting partners reaching double figures.

Offspinner Josh Simpson collected him amongst a match-winning performance of 5-19 from 12.1 overs.