Hawke Cup holders too strong for cricket reps

A relatively-inexperienced Marlborough rep cricket side denied Hawke Cup holders Canterbury Country an outright victory during their zone three qualifying clash in Rangiora today.

The two-day match was drawn, with an experienced, well-balanced Country crew claiming first innings points after an under-par effort by Marlborough with the bat on Saturday.

The visitors were dismissed for a paltry 126 runs, scored in 45.2 overs, then the home side amassed 329-4 before declaring. With a 203-run lead, Country did their best to push for an outright but Marlborough held firm, their second innings effort of 106-4 enough to deny the home side maximum points before the match was called off 30 minutes before tea on Sunday afternoon.

Marlborough’s batting crumbled early on day one. At lunch they were 72-8, unable to handle the pacy Country attack. Only No 5 batsman Corey Bovey stood strong, making his way to a determined 55 from 89 balls before being the last wicket to fall. He was unable to find an ally with the bat until No 11 Jaden Adams came to the crease, the pair adding some respectability to the Marlborough score with a 52-run partnership that pushed the score past three figures. Adams finished unbeaten on 12.

Six Country bowlers picked up wickets, Sam Chamberlain bagging 3-24 from nine overs, spinner Blake Coburn 2-28 from seven and Jesse Frew 2-12 from seven.

The home side’s reply was based around three solid partnerships. Opener Rhys Mariu, 68 from 73, and Harry Chamberlain, 34 from 53, putting on 78 for the second wicket; Frew, 65 from 168, and Zak Foulkes adding 136 for the fourth wicket; then Foulkes, who ended with 101* from 196, and Matt Laffey, 43* from 76, pushing the score past 300 from 99 overs.

Nick Weaver and Sam Boyce, the most experienced of the Marlborough attack, claimed two wickets apiece, bowling 20 and 21 overs apiece. Adams ran in for 21 overs while spinner Griffin Carter bowled 17 on a tough day for the visiting attack, especially after medium pacer Joel Pannell was injured after just four overs.

Country could have settled for batting practice late on Sunday but decided to give their bowlers another shot at the brittle Marlborough batting. This time they met with more resistance, especially from youngster Luke Pannell who defied both pace and spin to finish with 43 not out from 93 deliveries. Fellow youngster Hunter Ruffell, pushed up the order following an injury to regular opener Jamie McVittie, also stood out with a solid 17 against the new ball.

Marlborough coach Jarrod Englefield said there were positive aspects to take from their match-up with the cup holders.

“It was a great learning experience for us … these guys are pretty sharp. [Their pace bowling] is easily a yard quicker than what we have, they have good spin options and put the ball in good areas.

“Corey [Bovey] batted well in the first innings, with help from Jaden [Adams]. We struggled with the ball initially, bowling too many loose deliveries, but changed things up and got more rhythm after tea, pulling the run rate right back, so the last session on Saturday was actually quite pleasing.

“In our second innings their spinner had us in trouble initially but young Luke [Pannell] batted really well … which would have done him a world of good.

“We may have been beaten but there were lots of little wins to take out of [the game].”

Country now sit on top of the zone three group after beating Nelson on the first innings last weekend. Buller, who last week secured a first innings win over Marlborough, lost on the first innings to Nelson in Westport on Sunday, meaning Marlborough will likely need an outright win over Nelson in their final qualifying match on January 14-15 at Horton Park to reach the zone final.