Wairarapa’s Stefan Hook, background, scored two half-centuries at the weekend. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR
CRICKET
MARCUS ANSELM
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Brock Price and Stefan Hook impressed at the crease, but HighMark Homes Wairarapa suffered a double knockout at the weekend’s Chapple Cup competition in Napier.
Wairarapa lost both the Chapple Cup first round game against Whanganui and the Cave Cup match against Nelson.
Old foe Greg Smith of Whanganui carried his bat for an unbeaten century to seal a four-wicket win in the opening round on Friday.
On Saturday, Nelson’s Finn Raxworthy and Thomas Zohrab contributed a 215-run opening stand to an 81-run win in the Cave Cup semi-finals.
Hosts Hawke’s Bay defeated Manawatu in Sunday’s Chapple Cup final. After defeating Wairarapa, Nelson lost out to Marlborough in the Cave Cup decider.
In the Chapple Cup playoff, Price and Hook shared an impressive third-wicket stand of 157 in a losing cause.
They came together after Connor O’Leary, the pick of the Whanganui bowlers with five for 42, struck twice in the 12th over.
O’Leary bowled Jack Forrester for 17 before trapping Ethan Childs leg before wicket three balls later.
Price’s 96 was Wairarapa’s standout in an innings of 253 for six.
His knock came off 97 deliveries and included 11 fours and two sixes.
The partnership was broken in the 41st over when Hook was run out for 67.
Price lasted three overs more but was O’Leary’s fourth victim.
Hook opened the bowling against and took 2-40.
But Smith smashed an unbeaten 118 in 110 balls as Whanganui chased down the target with eight overs to spare.
Smith’s carried his bat for a match-winning ton off 110 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes.
Smith has been the bane of the Wairarapa attack in previous seasons.
He scored an unbeaten 109 in Chapple Cup play two years ago.
The teams renew their rivalry in Furlong Cup action in Masterton next month.
The defeat pushed Wairarapa into Saturday’s Cave Cup playoffs against a Nelson team surprisingly defeated by Horowhenua-Kapiti.
The South Islanders batted first and took their frustrations out on the Wairarapa bowlers.
They mounted an impressive 349 for five, with opening pair Raxworthy and Zohrab on song.
Childs eventually broke the pairing in the 32nd over, removing Zohrab for 98.
He claimed Patrick Howes for two in his next over, before all-rounder Gus Borren claimed the key wicket of Raxworthy.
A catch by Patrick Gluck ended the left-hander’s second century of the weekend.
Hook and Price were again on form despite the team falling short.
Wairarapa were all out for 268 inside 48 overs.
Price built a patient 47 from number four.
Hook, who came in at seven, increased the pace and got his second half-century of the weekend. His 56 came from 42 balls.
Hook combined with Gluck, who hit a quick fire 37, for a partnership of 86 for the sixth wicket.
Anthony Sprowson contributed 23 from 21 balls.
BRIEF SCORES
Chapple Cup Round 1
Wanganui 256/6 [Greg Smith 118, Stefan Hook 2-40] beat HighMark Homes Wairarapa 253/6 [Brock Price 96, Stefan Hook 67, Connor O’Leary 5-42]
Cave Cup semi-final
Nelson 349/5 [Finn Raxworthy 114, Thomas Zohrab 98, Greg Hay 51, Ethan Childs 3-85] beat HighMark Homes Wairarapa 268 all out [Stefan Hook 56, Brock Price 47, Josh Simpson 2/30]
