Post Office Wairarapa were in a commanding position over Manawatū after the first innings of their two-day Furlong Cup match at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval.
However, rain was likely to have the final say, with overnight downpours leaving the outfield and bowlers run-ups sodden, forcing a delay to the start of yesterday’s play.
When stumps were drawn on Saturday, the home side held an 89-run lead with two wickets in hand and were well-positioned to push on for a rare outright victory over their neighbours.
Persistent rain overnight resulted in a lengthy delay to yesterday’s play, which finally got underway at 1.45pm. Wairarapa added eight runs to their score to be all out for 227, but the prospect of getting an outright result still remained slim with further rain forecast for later yesterday afternoon.
Saturday, though, belonged to Wairarapa, and it was their fired-up opening pace bowling attack of James Church and Ethan Childs that tore through the Manawatū top order after skipper Robbie Anderson won the toss and elected to bowl on a green pitch that provided good assistance for the quick bowlers.
Rathkeale’s Church had a point to prove to the Central Districts selectors after surprisingly being left out of the CD under-19 squad, and the 17-year-old did so in style, taking four wickets for 22 runs off eight overs, including the prize scalps of run machine Trent McGrath for one and the dangerous Bevan Small for 10 to have the visitors reeling at 60–6.
Ethan Childs, who was a late call-up for the injured Jaco Vorster, also relished the seamer-friendly conditions, finishing with 4–40.
Thomas Kuggeleijn, with 61 not out, was the only Manawatū player to go past 20 runs, with only three others making it into double figures.
Robbie Anderson produced a captain’s knock in the home side’s response with his second half-century of the competition, scoring a patient 66 off 99 balls and featuring 10 fours. He had good support from Jake Jonas, and the pair had progressed the score to 90 when Jonas was out hit-wicket for 26 after he stepped on his stumps.
Quinn Childs was the best of the rest, continuing his good batting form from the club championship with a determined 49.
There will be a full report in tomorrow’s Times-Age.
Brief Scores after
the first innings:
Manawatu 130 [Thomas Kugeleijn 61no; James Church 4–22, Ethan Childs 4–40] trailed Wairarapa 227 [Robbie Anderson 66, Quinn Childs 49, Jake Jonas 26; Bevan Small 4–48, Thomas Kirk 3–38, Arana Noema-Barnett 3–61].
