Six of the best for Toole
Ray Toole announced his arrival on the scene for Manawatu¯ by taking a six-wicket bag in their first-innings win against Wanganui at the weekend.
The left-arm pace bowler came from Australia to Manawatu¯ this year to work with former Black Cap Jacob Oram and study at Massey University, then earned his place in the rep team.
In this weekend’s Furlong Cup match at Manawaroa Park, he took career-best figures of 6-72 in the first innings as Manawatu¯ bowled Wanganui out for 270 in 65.5 overs on Saturday, then just eked out first innings on Sunday, getting to 281 in 79.1 overs.
The game ended with two Wanganui batsmen - Ben Smith and Mark Fraser - scoring centuries and they called it a day with Wanganui on 259-5 late on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Toole bowled well on the first day and said he was chuffed to return his best figures.
‘‘There was a bit of swing as well because it was a bit overcast,’’ he said. ‘‘The wicket had a bit of life in it.’’
Toole was born in South Africa and emigrated to Melbourne. He had a training session with Oram last year and then decided to shift to New Zealand.
In Melbourne he played for the Moash Tigers in the Victoria Premier League, which is a strong competition with a few state players.
One of Toole’s victims in the first innings was Central Districts batsman Ben Smith, who is returning from a broken finger, and he top scored with 63.
Veteran Wanganui player Dom Rayner made 41 and Ross Kinnerly was the next best with an unbeaten 36. Thomas Kuggeleijn took 2-52. Then in Manawatu¯ ’s turn at bat, they lost both their openers quickly, but then the middle order did the work, led by No 6 Logan Mchardy.
Mchardy had looked set to score a hundred, but top edged a short ball and was out for 83, his highest score for Manawatu¯ .
Dave Meiring had scored 56 and Bevan Small 33.
When Mchardy was out with the score at 251-9 and Manawatu¯ still needing 20 runs to reach their target, Wanganui would have fancied getting first innings. But Toole came in at No 11 and linked up with Dane Watson for a cameo to get them over the line.
Watson scored 18 and Toole was on 16 not out, giving them a lead of 11.
‘‘I heard a couple of people were in a bit of disarray, but it was good to keep calm and back yourself,’’ Toole said. ‘‘It helped with Watson
there to talked thing through with.’’
Wanganui then batted out the day, with Smith looking in good touch scoring 102 from 101 balls,
then Fraser reached triple figures with 103 not out from 158 balls.
Fraser scored a century against Manawatu¯ at the Chapple Cup in 2014.
Toole backed up his six wickets in the first innings with 1-37 in the second.
Manawatu¯ ’s play Wairarapa in Masterton next weekend.