Stefan Hook took 4-45 for CD A. PHOTOS/FILE
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Wairarapa pace bowlers Seth Rance and Stefan Hook have been on fire for Central Districts in a rain-affected Provincial A match against Northern Districts [ND] in Taupo.
Rance, who was using the match as part of his preparations to return to the Central Stags for the resumption of the Plunket Shield competition, and Hook, each claimed four wickets in ND’s first innings of 221.
Rance was lethal on the Owen Delaney Park pitch, which had a tinge of green, sending the openers Nicholas Hendrie and Taylor Bettelheim back to the pavilion without scoring. He finished with four wickets for 29 runs off 13 tight overs.
Hook also impressed, picking up 4-45 from 12 overs.
Meanwhile, Jackson Street Bar Lansdowne can secure their place in this month’s Bidwill Cup final when they play Wairarapa Mitsubishi Greytown at Greytown in the second-round today.
Lansdowne took the maximum 10 points from their first-round outright win over Burger King Red Star last Saturday and only need one bonus point to lock in their spot in the two-day final.
Although gaining that point may be the priority, Lansdowne are likely to take a more positive approach and push for a second outright victory to guarantee the all-important top qualifier’s spot for the final.
Lansdowne deserve to start warm favourites against a Greytown side who won the second tier Umpires Cup in December.
The step up from the 40-overs-a-side game to a 100-over declaration-style game brings a different dimension.
Greytown do have the experience to counter that with batsmen such as veterans Alastair ‘Tora’ Boyne, and Justin Herbert at the top of the order, and Tim Fenwick, wicketkeeper Cuong ‘Chopper’ Truong, and Roshan Sugathan capable of scoring big runs lower down the order.
That change of format though, will severely test the Greytown bowlers, with medium pacers Jono Friend, Jonny Maloney, and Byron Hegglin, while Sugathan, who was a useful spin bowling option for Red Star in the Coastal Challenge, can expect his fair share of work, with bowlers allowed up to 15 overs each.
Reece Hannam proved his worth to Lansdowne in their win over Red Star last weekend, knocking the top of the batting line-up, in taking 4-20, and then scoring a valuable 34 not out in the successful run chase.
Experienced campaigners Robbie Speers, Greg Dennes-Wilson, and the hard-hitting representative batsman Jaco Vorster give the Lansdowne batting line-up a solid look.
Medium pacers Hannam, Nathan Kapene and Mandeep Singh are likely to head the bowling line-up, while Regan Fricker and Sanjay Patel could be vital cogs on the typically low, slow Greytown pitch.
The match will start 30 minutes later than usual at 12.30pm to allow the junior players and spectators to be clear of the ground because of covid-19 level two protocols.
