Hawke Cup heads to Rangiora
Hamilton finally lost its grip on the Hawke Cup this summer after Canterbury Country sealed an outright win by five wickets yesterday at Galloway Park in Hamilton East.
Canterbury Country had rolled Hamilton for just 98 in 28.2 overs in the first innings, 15 wickets falling on a fast-moving opening day.
Hamilton’s Freddy Walker (5-75, and seven for the match) claimed a five-wicket bag to hold Canterbury Country’s first innings to 240, a first-innings lead to the challenger of 142.
The visitors batting was led by a significant century by the vastly experience exCanterbury player Sjhanan Stewart who shared a 129-run fifth wicket stand with allrounder Henry Shipley.
However, after a tentative middle order recovery, Hamilton’s second innings fell away yesterday to leave Canterbury Country with a modest 102-target for outright bragging rights.
Darfield-born Canterbury first-class paceman Shipley had snaffled 6-27 in the first innings and ended with nine for the match, and fittingly struck the winning boundary this afternoon with more than a session to spare to put the Hawke Cup on the plane to Rangiora.
Hamnilton had made two successful defences against Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay,
The final challenge of the season, from Zone 4 winner Otago Country, will take place 13-15 March 2020 at Mainpower Oval.
To win the Hawke Cup, challengers must beat the holders on their home ground, either outright or on the first innings in the event of a drawn match.