Manawatu¯ stumble against Wairarapa

Manawatu¯ ’s hopes of earning a Hawke Cup challenge have taken a hit after a first-innings loss to Wairarapa.

The two sides drew their twoday Furlong Cup match in Masterton at the weekend, but Wairarapa, led by a century from Brock Price and five wickets from Daniel Ingham, secured first innings points.

Manawatu¯ went after an outright late in the day on Sunday and were in trouble at 128-8 chasing 163, before play was called off about 7pm.

It is the first time Wairarapa have beaten Manawatu¯ on first innings since 2011.

Manawatu¯ coach Mike Mason had wanted an outright win from the match, but losing on first innings means Manawatu¯ will need first innings wins over Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay in the new year.

‘‘Really disappointed,’’ Mason said. ‘‘We had good bowling conditions, but we didn’t really get the ball in the right areas.

‘‘We had a couple of inexperienced new guys, but I think there was enough there to grab that first innings. We were a bit loose and a bit inconsistent and let them get away.

‘‘We let them get too high a total, 60 runs too many.’’

Wairarapa batted first and scored 242 off the back of 116 not out from Price, then Manawatu¯ scraped their way to 237, just short of first innings points.

Mason said their bowlers went at four runs per over in the first innings which isn’t good enough. He also lamented five dropped catches.

The ball was swinging, particularly late on Saturday, when Wairarapa and Central Districts paceman Seth Rance was making the ball talk.

Having Rance also gave Wairarapa belief and they lifted.

Manawatu¯ ’s bowling was much better in the second innings and they had Wairarapa under the pump at the start at 8-3 and 92-7.

That gave Manawatu¯ hope of chasing down a small total, but the Wairarapa tail dug in and built their total to 157, giving them a lead of 162.

Mason said they fell just short. ‘‘That’s probably been the story of the last two games. We let teams get away.’’

Manawatu¯ had to make two late changes when seamer Navin Patel was called up by Central Districts and spinner Dane Watson pulled out with a back injury.

Marist seamer Matt Wells and Old Boys all-rounder Trent Mcgrath were their replacements and both played their first match for Manawatu¯ .

Debutant bowler Carlos Jensen also looked good before pulling up with a quad injury on Sunday. Jensen took 3-8 in the second innings, as well as one in the first.

Wells took 3-34 in the first innings. Paceman Ray Toole also took 4-67.

Mason said it made getting a Hawke Cup challenge harder now.

‘‘A lot of players have had a crack now and had a bit of a taste. They know what to do when they come back into the team. We’ve got some good players there, they just need to front up for the boys and for Manawatu¯ .’’

In Manawatu’s first innings, they lost regular wickets and aside from opener Mason Hughes, who scored 58, were looking a long way off Wairarapa’s total at 140-7.

But Scott Davidson hung in with the tail and put on a partnership of 62 with Thomas Kuggeleijn, and threatened to get them close.

Davidson was out for 51 and Kuggeleijn almost got them there with 34 not out, but ran out of partners.

Fringe CD bowler Stefan Hook took 4-47 for Wairarapa, Rance had 3-17 from six overs and Ingham took 2-65.

In Wairarapa’s second innings,

‘‘We had a couple of inexperienced new guys, but I think there was enough there to grab that first innings. We were a bit loose and a bit inconsistent and let them get away.’’ Manawatu¯ coach Mike Mason

Manawatu¯ ’s seamers Jensen, Ray Toole and Tim Richards all took three wickets each to give them a sniff.

But Ingham scored a crucial 36 not out at No 6 to frustrate Manawatu¯ . Opener John Mckenzie had earlier scored 34.

Then in Manawatu¯ ’s final chase they were battling at 41-4 and 78-6, but Mitch Renwick scored 40 and Kuggeleijn 26 before stumps were called.

Ingham had 5-45 by the close of play and Hook 3-73.

Standings: Taranaki 36, Hawke’s Bay 35, Manawatu¯ 26, Wairarapa 14, Wanganui 13, Horowhenua Ka¯ piti 9.