Another first-innings win

Rain ruined any hope of an outright victory, but Manawatu¯ ’s men’s cricketers were still happy about returning from Whanganui with a first-innings win.

Manawatu¯ took points against Whanganui in Whanganui in their two-day Hawke Cup match last weekend, but rain on Sunday afternoon meant the game was drawn. Set 258 to win in about 70 overs, Whanganui faced just 4.5 overs before rain stopped play.

Manawatu¯ coach Dave Meiring thought they could have pushed for an outright win if the weather had played ball.

‘‘I think we got ourselves into a pretty strong position about 250-odd ahead and putting them in to try and knock them over, still with 70 overs left in the day.’’ Chasing 258 may have been a tough task for Whanganui on a pitch well suited to seam bowlers and not easy to score on.

Whanganui’s bowling attack was their strength and they bowled Manawatu¯ , who batted first, out for 153 in 46 overs in the first innings.

No 4 Dane Cleaver, one of four Central Districts men back just for this game, showed his class with the bat and scored an important 35, and he and Trent Mcgrath (18) put on 53 for the third wicket.

Fellow CD men Adam Milne (33) and Navin Patel (45 not out) scored crucial runs down the order after Manawatu¯ were 67-5.

Whanganui had a chance at 131-7 having recovered from 80-7. But Matt Borren got rid of Mcilraith and Mcgrath’s left-arm off-spin removed the last two batsmen to give Manawatu¯ a 24-run first-innings lead.

Other results went in Manawatu¯ ’s favour, as Horowhenua Ka¯ piti (291 and 77-1) upset Hawke’s Bay (206) on first innings. The Taranakiwairarapa match in Masterton was called off with bad weather.

Manawatu¯ 157 (N Patel 45*, D Cleaver 35, A Milne 33; R Kinnerley 4-64, C O’leary 3-30, A Gill 2-8) and 233-6 decl (Cleaver 83, M Hughes 46, Milne 41*; ) beat

Whanganui 133 (J Mcilraith 52, C Hartley 40; C Jensen 4-12, T Mcgrath 2-2, Patel 2-29) and 0-0 on first innings.