Melissa Hansen was all class in scoring her third consecutive half-century. PHOTOS/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Melissa Hansen was the shining light for the Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus in a disappointing 50-run loss to Hawke’s Bay in a Shrimpton Trophy clash in Hastings on Sunday.
The Central Hinds all-rounder scored her third consecutive half-century for the team, an outstanding achievement at representative level.
Hansen came to the wicket with the Korus 34-2 chasing Hawke’s Bay total of 193-8 from their 40 overs and stood firm while wickets fell around her.
When she was the ninth wicket to fall, Hansen had scored 56 and had stroked five fours in her innings of 85 balls, an innings that coach Simon Roseingrave said was better than the 59 against Nelson and 78 against Hawke’s Bay two weeks ago, as she was in total control.
There were hints that partnerships could develop only for the batters to get out with poor decision-making, much to the frustration of Roseingrave, who was disappointed with the lack of application by the top order.
“If they had two or three dot balls, they felt they had to release the pressure with a boundary,” said Roseingrave.
“Four-and-a-half an over didn’t require that, and Mel kept saying that. If they had built partnerships they would have started to eat into the score, but some of them saw scoreboard pressure and played shots they shouldn’t have.”
The Korus’ problems started with fielding first in the 30-plus-degree heat at Cornwall Park, in what Roseingrave described as a messy effort, particularly with ground fielding.
“It wasn’t dropped catches, the catching was good. A few balls went through for boundaries that shouldn’t have, and there were overthrows – it was messy.
A lot of the problems stemmed from some of the players not preparing properly ahead of the game.
“We dropped our standards, we’re better than what we put out on the field, and that led into the batting.”
Former Wairarapa player Kerry Tomlinson led the way for the home side, top-scoring with an aggressive 57 from 64 balls.
Elizabeth Cohr was the best of the Korus’ bowlers, taking four wickets for 20 runs.
The loss has ended the Korus’ slim hopes of Shrimpton Trophy glory with only one game left to play against Taranaki in two weeks.
BRIEF SCORES
Hawke’s Bay 193-8 [Kerry Tomlinson 57; Elizabeth Cohr 4-20] beat Wairarapa Korus 143 [Melissa Hansen 56; Gretel Fairbrother 4-9] by 50 runs.
