Cricketers well beaten

Marlborough’s Hawke Cup zone three qualifying campaign ended with their third consecutive first innings loss at Horton Park on Sunday.

Up against long-standing rivals Nelson and after losses to Buller and Canterbury Country, Marlborough needed at least a first innings win to have a chance of securing a challenge for the prestigious trophy, but came up well short.

The visitors claimed first innings points early on Sunday. Put into bat on Saturday morning, their lower order fired to push them to a competitive total of 281.

By stumps on day one, Marlborough were reeling at 48-6 and things improved only slightly today, the home side dismissed for 108, handing Nelson a 173-run lead.

They immediately set about extending that with some attacking batting and were able to declare at 191-3 from just 32.3 overs.

Left the improbable task of scoring 365 runs to win, it was a matter of survival for Marlborough and they managed that, taking their second innings score through to 94-3 before the sides shook hands, ending Marlborough’s 2022-23 red ball campaign and putting Nelson in the box seat for a challenge against holders Canterbury Country.

It all began so promisingly for the home side on Saturday morning. Jaden Adams, the pick of the Marlborough attack who went on to grab 5-77 from 23 overs, grabbed three early wickets to put Nelson under pressure and, at 5-52 they were struggling for consolidation.

Their recovery began with a handy 56-run partnership between the Zohrab siblings, Thomas, who scored 47 from 64, and David. That momentum was maintained by Sean Neal, who took the attack to the local bowlers, slamming 51 from the same number of balls to push his side’s total to 177.

After his dismissal Marlborough recovered to pick up another couple of wickets and, at 213-9 the end of the visitors’ innings looked nigh. However, tailender Ollie Jones-Allen joined Zohrab and the pair frustrated the home side, pushing Nelson’s total towards 300 before Zohrab fell just short of a well-deserved ton, his contribution 96 from 190 balls.

Adams led the way with the ball, backed up by some superb wicketkeeping from Matthew Stretch. MBC student Baxter Croad, making his rep debut, picked up two wickets, while the ever-reliable Sam Boyce was economical and also grabbed two scalps.

In reply, Marlborough were soon in trouble, openers Cooper Roberts and Sam Boyce back in the pavilion with just six runs on the board. Andrew McCaa and Tim Petrie set about mounting a recovery and pushed the score to 36 before McCaa nicked the ball to the eager slip cordon, departing for 24 from 42 balls. Corey Bovey, Matthew Stretch and Tom Sutherland followed in quick succession, leaving the home side with a mountain to climb on day two.

The fact that Marlborough managed to reach three figures was mainly down to Petrie, who showed commitment and technique to hold the innings together. His was the final wicket to fall, the lefthander showing admirable concentration to compile 45 from a mammoth 182 balls.

Paceman Sam Baxendine was the pick of the Nelson attack, bagging 4-34 from 18 overs while Matthew O’Sullivan snared 3-23 from 12.4 overs and Jones-Allen picked up 2-16 from six. Thomas Zohrab was his usual miserly self, giving up just 12 runs from his 13 overs while claiming McCaa’s wicket.

In their second innings Nelson went on the attack, openers Chris Dittmer and Nic Clark putting on 57, then Clark and Greg Hay combining for a 119-run partnership, all in quick time. Clark finished with 89 from 94, Hay 66 from 66.

Marlborough made a better start to their second dig, Roberts counter-attacking with 33 from 28, however he departed with 37 on the board and when McCaa and Boyce both fell with the score at 54 Nelson’s hopes of a batting collapse rose.

Again, it was Petrie who steadied the ship, working his way to an unbeaten 22 at the close, alongside Bovey who finished 17 not out.

Next up for Marlborough is the annual Chapple Cup tournament, followed later in the season by a Newman Shield challenge against Nelson.

Marlborough coach Jarrod Englefield said that despite his side giving away a really strong position early on day one, he still felt they were capable of knocking off the runs.

“It was a good batting wicket and we backed ourselves at that stage to establish some partnerships, chip away at the target and hopefully have a crack at it later today, but it just wasn’t to be.

“[Nelson] were quite diligent in their planning and threw some things at us we weren’t prepared for and we found ourselves well behind the eight ball at stumps on day one.”

He was quick to admit that his side was dominated for most of the match.

“This was probably the first time for a few seasons where Nelson have comprehensively beaten us. The fact they totally out-played us after such a good start was very frustrating. It’s a tough pill to swallow but we just have to park it, review it and see how we can improve.”

Adding to the coach’s frustration is the fact he and his fellow selectors have been unable to field a settled line-up throughout the red ball campaign.

“There has been a lot of chopping and changing … the side is unsettled and that has posed quite a challenge, especially when you are trying to develop a younger team.

“The guys who have come in have done really well for us, there have been top efforts in all three games, but not the consistency we need,” he added.

Scores:

Nelson first innings 281; Marlborough first innings 108; Nelson second innings 191-3 declared; Marlborough second innings 94-3. First innings win to Nelson.