Manawatu¯ itching for match
The Manawatu¯ men are hungry to get their teeth into two-day cricket.
Manawatu¯ play Taranaki in Ha¯wera today and tomorrow, their first two-day Furlong Cup game of the summer after their season opener against Whanganui last month was rained off.
Since then Manawatu¯ were beaten in the semifinals of the Chapple Cup one-day tournament in Palmerston North two weeks ago, so coach Luke Murray was keen to see his side back in action.
‘‘[The Chapple Cup] possibly knocked us around a little bit and took us a few days to get past it,’’ Murray said. ‘‘We’re learnt from it and everyone has got themselves back in.
‘‘We’ve regathered the troops and concentrated back on red ball stuff, which is probably our main goal for the season. Everyone is keen to get back into it.’’
Manawatu¯ beat Wairarapa by four wickets in the first round of the Chapple Cup, but were beaten by seven wickets by Hawke’s Bay in the semifinal. The third-and-fourth playoff against Marlborough was rained off. After only two one-day games, Murray said this weekend would be a good chance for players to bat and bowl for long periods.
Taranaki usually play at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth, but the Central Districts men are
Manawatu¯: Mason Hughes, Tom O’connor, Ma’ara Ave, Logan Mchardy, Trent Mcgrath, Arana Noema-barnett, Curtis Heaphy, Hayden Hill, Thomas Kuggeleijn, Tim Richards (captain), Andre Hoggard, Carlos Jensen, Jack Harris. Furlong Cup standings: Hawke’s Bay 16, Manawatu¯ 8, Whanganui 8, Taranaki 6, Wairarapa 5, Horowhenua-kapiti 3.
playing there next week, so the Hawke Cup qualifying game has been moved.
Manawatu¯ all-rounder Trent Mcgrath is from Ha¯wera and offered some insight about the pitch, which is rarely used for rep games.
Murray has made one change to the side from the Chapple Cup squad, with United all-rounder Hayden Hill called in, replacing Palmerston North Boys’ High School seamer Thomas Kirk.
Murray opted for Hill because he wanted another spinner for the Ha¯wera ground, which he believed may take spin. There are already five seam bowlers in the side. Hill also strengthens the batting lineup.
CD bowler Ray Toole, who was meant to play at Chapple Cup but withdrew with a back injury, won’t be available. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ma’ara Ave was with CD on Tuesday, going to New Plymouth for the Stags’ game against Otago as injury cover, and ended up 12th man. over rule applied.
Athletic led 6-5 at the bottom of the fifth inning. Once Athletic reached the sixth inning, they scored six runs in a row. Matua Ma had no answer.
Athletic’s top batter was Keisha Campbell, who batted 0.500, scoring a run and three runs batted in.
Pitcher Manea Kotuhi-brown faced 28 batters, giving up the six runs and taking three strikeouts.
Matua Ma’s top batter was Star Live, who batted 1.000. Star also had some of the pitching duty, facing 28 batters, giving up six runs, four earned, seven walks and two hits, and taking three strikeouts.
Feilding United strung their runs out across five innings in a 10-1 win over Linton Storm, where the runahead rule was invoked.
Feilding scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Sharnelle Miller was Feilding’s top batter, batting 0.750, scoring one run and picking up one run batted in. Pitcher Ashlee Hatzen faced 21 batters, giving up one run and taking nine strikeouts.
Linton scored through Moevao Faimale, who was their top batter with 1.000. Jules Hatapu batted Faimale home. Faimale did most of the pitching for Linton, facing 25 batters, giving up seven runs and taking one strikeout.
In section A of the men’s senior reserve competition, Palmerston North Dodgers beat Levin United 5-4, Huia Warriors beat Bramac Bombers 14-1, Athletic beat Feilding United 19-4 and Whanganui Braves had the bye.
In section B Panthers beat Blue Sox 13-1, Kingswood Demons beat Linton BBS 13-3, and Raiders beat the Cowboys 9-4.