A HAWKE Cup game all wrapped up by 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon after an innings defeat is not entirely uncommon at Victoria Park, but this time it was Active Physio Wanganui on the right side of the ledger as they finally put months of pre-planning and training into a complete
Wanganui win after forcing follow on
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KEY KNOCK: Despite not having proper feeling in his upper hand on the bat, Wanganui's Mark Fraser anchored his team's Day 1 innings with a superb 99 at Victoria Park against Wairarapa.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 131214WCBRCCRI05
Despite the pinched nerve in his neck meaning he could not even feel his upper arm gripping the bat handle, Fraser played bottom hand shots and guided the team towards each milestone - first the 150 then the magic 200.
Wicketkeeper Chris Sharrock (21) played some attacking cricket before trying one time too many and holing out, while John McIlraith (20) and Travis Bartels (19 not out), also gave good supporting hands, with Bartels' speed between the wickets helping the tiring Fraser.
After facing 182 balls across 289 minutes and hitting 12 boundaries, Fraser deserved his fifth spot on the Wanganui Honours Board, but his decision to block and run on 99 proved a travesty as Paul Lyttle did not miss the stumps with his diving underhand throw.
Sam O'Leary and Bartels tried to slog a quick few as Collier wanted to declare at the late tea break - O'Leary run out on the last ball - and after keeping the visitors in the field for 88 overs, Wanganui were hopeful of making good use of the awkward 13 overs remaining.
It could not have gone better as Wairarapa slumped to 22-5 at the close of play with Bartels and Ryan Slight ripping through the top order.
Only allrounder Jamie Holmes (57) took back some control on Sunday morning, seeing his team past the 100 mark as wickets kept falling at the other end, Holmes somewhat negating the hot Slight, before Collier stepped up for the first of two magic spells.
He caught Holmes charging but misreading the flight as Sharrock whipped the bails off, then got last man Brian James two balls later to leave Wairarapa to follow on.
Needing 155 to make Wanganui bat again, openers Brock Price and Lyttle initially made a brisk start, before the veteran Rayner got three key wickets before having to come off with a strain.
Holmes (56) was again the man to get, although he rode his luck with a dropped catch in gully.
An 84-run partnership with George Deans (29) with three hours left was bringing their side back into the match, before Collier made the game his with the perfect over.
Deans misjudged the turn and was bowled, then Gordon Reisima was trapped in front next delivery.
Chris Wenden somehow survived the hat-trick after another close shout when he offered no shot and tried to pad away, but two balls later Collier again hit the stumps.
Askew at 133-7, all hopes were on Holmes but in the very next over, he foolishly reached out to try and sweep O'Leary and lost his castle to set the packed-in Wanganui fielders off whooping.
The tail struggled through another 19 runs to nearly force the home side to pad up again, but after Max Carroll made a great leaping catch over his head to give Collier a four-for, O'Leary hit James on the toe plum in front to wrap it up.
"It's definitely up there, three years ago we did the same thing - bowled them out in the last session," said Collier of his first win as captain.
"This is very satisfying considering the approach the boys have taken to pre-season.
"Dogger [Fraser] stuck around, played through a pinched nerve, big ups to him."
It was a typical Wanganui anchor batsman innings, which Collier admitted the team still relies upon too much, but then the bowling unit delivered, to the point where not enforcing the follow-on was only given brief consideration.
"I think the idea of an innings defeat for Wairarapa was a lot more satisfying than a runs win."
While he did not deliver with the bat, Collier was justifiably pleased with his six wicket haul, breaking the key partnership in each innings.
"It was turning a lot, I think the hat-trick ball you'd give out on any other day of the week."
The team, which now has some depth can now approach the January 10 and 24 away games with Taranaki and Horowhenua Kapiti with rare optimism.