A gritty, unbeaten ninth-wicket stand between Jeremy Anderson and Jack Wakeling saved Post Office Hotel Wairarapa from an embarrassing defeat against Taranaki in the first round of the Furlong Cup [Zone Two Hawke Cup elimination series] at the weekend.
The pair came together with Wairarapa 63–8 and steering down the barrel of an innings defeat at Pukekura Park, but they dug deep and withstood immense pressure to finish the match at 142–8, with Jeremy Anderson 74 not out and Wakeling 24 not out.
Wairarapa coach Mark Childs felt Jeremy Anderson’s effort was the highlight of the two days and said, “he just showed that grit and determination that I was after to save face and stop it from being an embarrassment.
“Jack Wakeling knuckled down and batted really well as well, and the pressure was on, and they were crowding the bat, but we hung tough and showed some resilience, which was another pleasing thing.”
Sunday’s heroics were in contrast to Saturday’s play, when Wairarapa had worked into a strong position but failed to capitalise, losing their last five wickets for six runs.
Captain Robbie Anderson had set a good platform with 74 at the top of the order, and Seth Rance [82] and Samuel Payne [26] had progressed the score to 231–5, but when they were both dismissed at that total, there was little further resistance, and they were all out for 237.
Wairarapa bowled well to restrict Taranaki to 113–3 at stumps, with veteran opener Dean Robinson out for 52 to the left-arm spin of Quinn Childs in the last over of the day, an effort that pleased Mark Childs.
“We didn’t nail that position we were in to push past 300, but the discipline in the bowling on day one, we bowled 58 overs and bowled 20 maidens, was super, and the fielding was really good as well,” he said.
“James Church bowled five maidens at the end, so for a 17-year-old, that was hugely impressive.”
Wairarapa started the second day positively, claiming the early wicket of Sam Fastier for 31 to have Taranaki 124–4, but a 130-run stand between Liam Muggeridge [106] and Matt Thomas [87] led to the home side building a big first innings lead.
Ultimately, though, the visitors were made to pay for dropped catches.
Robinson was put down on 20 and batted another two hours, although the most costly was Muggeridge, who was grassed when on eight, while Thomas was dropped on 40 and went on to score 87.
“They were their three key players, and we just didn’t take our chances, and there were a few key moments we just didn’t nail,” Mark Childs reflected.
The second round of the Furlong Cup will be played on the weekend of November 18–19, with Wairarapa to host Manawatu.
BRIEF SCORES
Wairararap 237 [Robbie Anderson 74, Seth Rance 82, Samuel Payne 26; Jordan Gard 5–51, Grant Commerford 2-64, Shay Smith 2-56] and 142-8 [Jeremy Anderson 74no, Jack Wakeling 24no; Smith 2-36, Gard 2-52, Liam Muggeridge 2-40] lost on first innings to Taranaki 394-8 decl. [Muggeridge 106, Matt Thomas 87, Dean Robinson 52, Jarred Cunningham 39; James Church 2-77, Quinn Childs 2-58, Wakeling 2-66].
