Record-equalling ton not enough
A record 11th century for Manawatu¯ by Dave Meiring wasn’t enough to ge them across the line in the Chapple Cup final.
Hawke’s Bay beat Manawatu¯ by four wickets in the Central Districts one-day championships at Napier on Sunday, the second year in a row Hawke’s Bay has beaten Manawatu¯ in the decider.
Both Meiring and Hawke’s Bay opener Jake Smith traded tons in the match.
For Meiring it was his 11th hundred for the association, equalling the legendary Dave Fulton’s record.
Manawatu¯ won the toss and batted first, posting 218-8 thanks Meiring’s effort, who crafted 108 from 146 balls.
Meiring had a couple of supporters through the middle order, but no-one hung around long enough for them to post a really big score.
Mason Hughes (0) and Mitch Renwick (20), who put on 51 runs for the second wicket with Meiring, were both run out, which were costly.
The best partnership of the innings was between Meiring and Bevan small, who scored 26.
The Hawke’s Bay bowling attack, which included Central Districts seamers Doug Bracewell and Blair Tickner, pegged Manawatu¯ back and made it hard to score on a pitch that didn’t offer much.
Manawatu¯ would have liked another 30 or 40 runs to make their total more competitive.
In reply Hawke’s Bay made a strong start, which may have been the difference in the end.
Christian Leopard and Smith put on an opening stand of 72, but once Leopard was gone for 32, Manawatu¯ fought back.
Small was bowling fast and took three crucial wickets, taking 3-49 from 10 overs, and spinner Dane Watson slowed things down with 2-27.
Paceman Navin Patel was wicketless, but bowled well too.
With Hawke’s Bay at 154-5, Manawatu¯ were right in it, but Graeme Tryon (27) and Angus Schaw (24 not out) gave Smith the partners he needed to get the job done.
Manawatu¯ created a couple of half chances with Smith, but couldn’t get rid of him and he went on to score 102 not out from 110 balls, as Hawke’s Bay got to 222-6 with 4.2 overs remaining.
Manawatu¯ reached the final courtesy of a Dane Cleaver century, which set them up for a 168-run hiding of Taranaki in Saturday’s semifinal.
Cleaver smashed 173 from 110 balls, hitting eight sixes and 11 fours, as Manawatu¯ scored 345-5 in their first innings.
Cleaver and Renwick, who scored 78 from 107 balls, put on a big partnership of 217 for the third wicket.
Manawatu¯ then rolled Taranaki for just 177 in 40 overs, as opening bowlers Patel grabbed 4-24 and Ray Toole 3-16.