Davidson’s first ton sets up Manawatu win

A maiden century from Scott Davidson and five wickets from Tim Richards has kept Manawatu’s slim Hawke Cup chances alive after an outright 10-wicket win over Horowhenua-kapiti.

Having had two games abandoned due to rain, Manawatu need to win all their remaining games outright and hope Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki get tripped up somehow.

There may have been thoughts of a repeat against Horowhenuakapiti when rain yesterday morning meant they didn’t start play until 3pm.

The win against Horowhenuakapiti came late in Levin when Manawatu finally dismissed Horowhenua-kapiti for 126 in their second innings, which left Manawatu chasing just seven runs to win the game, which they did in 1.2 overs.

Earlier Old Boys all-rounder Davidson scored 101 from 136 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes, making sure Manawatu had a healthy first-innings total of 216-6 declared after Horowhenua-kapiti scored 90 batting first.

It was Davidson’s maiden rep century after six games for Manawatu and five seasons for Taranaki, and he had scored 97 once for Taranaki. The 28-year-old said he was a bit scratchy to start off with but once he got a few away he was feeling good.

In Horowhenua-kapiti’s first

innings, Manawatu paceman Navin Patel took 4-37, getting rid of most of Horowhenua-kapiti’s top order, then Richards came to the party to clean up the tail and he finished with 5-18 from 9.2 overs, bowling four maidens.

Only three Horowhenua-kapiti batsmen scored in double figures.

In Manawatu’s turn at bat, they were in a spot of bother at 52-4 and with their top order all back in the sheds, before Davidson came to the crease and played positively.

Davidson and Whetu na Nagara added 96 runs for the seventh wicket before they declared with a lead of 120.

Then in Horowhenua-kapiti’s second innings, they hung around a bit longer, but were all out for 126 in 38 overs.

Their two openers made starts, with Matt Good scoring 27 and Ben Strang 33, but once they were removed there wasn’t too much resistance.

Patel picked up another three wickets with 3-45, and medium pacer Thomas Kuggeleijn took 3-7 from six overs.