Cricket: Taranaki lift coveted Hawke Cup

Ian Snook

Hawkes Bay 7-59 decl & 268
Taranaki 157 & 3-130
Taranaki win on the first innings.

Dreams do come true if they are mixed with sufficient skill, desire and relentless determination.

Sam Fastier’s, Taranaki side, displayed an abundance of all three aspects, and for the first time since 2007, the Hawke Cup returned to the province.

Fastier now joins skippers C Kingstone who led the 1926/27 side, C Lash (1933/34), Bryan Bayley (1970/71), Ian Snook (1987/88), Rodney Brown (1993/94) and Matthew Broadmore (2006/07), who lead their teams to victories.

Not a large group by any stretch, which emphasizes the magnitude of this victory over a hugely successful and dominating Hawkes Bay side.

The end result may not look close, but this was an epic encounter, full of intensity and fluctuating fortunes. Taranaki hit the first real punch having HB 59-7 at lunch on day 1.

So much was the excitement in the Taranaki tent, full of family members and supporters, that their energy seemed to envelop the players as they bowled and fielded at levels that were at first class level.

Wicket-keeper Rupert Young led the way pouching three of the six catches taken, and the athletic smiling Ben Frewin bowled nine overs and took four wickets for 12 runs. This was incredible stuff.

There are often unbelievable stories that emanate from Hawke Cup clashes, and at lunch on day one at Nelson Park, the storyline took a remarkable ‘only time in history’ theme – the defenders (HB) declared their first innings closed at 59-7.

Declaring in a first innings by the holder has never been recorded in the history of the cup, let alone when the toatal was a measly 59 runs.

The confidence that HB displayed in having to dismiss Taranaki, then set a total and bowl Taranaki out again, was a huge, huge gamble, and would ultimately prove to be flawed, but it didn’t look completely nuts when Taranaki were six wickets down and still hadn’t passed the 59 runs to gain a first innings lead.

Up stepped Taranaki’s warriors once again. Frewin and fellow speedster Ryan Watson, batted with finesse and intelligence, Frewin ending with a polished 40 not out and Watson with 38.

With assistance from Liam Carr, an accomplished No 11 batsman by any teams standards, the Taranaki total headed off to 157 and a lead of 98. This was a crucial part of the game.

By now the pitch had worked its way into behaving normally, meaning the bounce was more predictable and the ball was coming on to the bat with more pace. Batting was going to be a lot more straight forward.

Technically that may well have been the case, but mentally, in a one-off Hawke Cup game, there is a lot to get your head around as a batsman, and so it proved. In a short space of time HB had lost three wickets for 30 runs.

Watson had uprooted Johnathon Whiteley’s stumps on ball five, which was backed-up with diving Dean Robinson and Young taking sharp catches.

Soon after HB had lost the talented Brad Schmulian and Bradley Wiggins, and once again the smiles in the Taranaki tent were very wide.

Finally, it happened. HB put a partnership together. Skipper Dominic Thompson and all-rounder Sam Cassidy played carefully, never looked under too much pressure, and edged the total further and further beyond Taranaki’s.

Just as it seemed they would end the day at five down and 60 to 70 ahead, the guile of Taranaki left arm spinner, the canny Carr, won the day. His flight was too tempting for Cassidy who was lured to his demise. A clever act if ever I saw one.

Sunday would either bring joy or heartache. There would be no in-between. A nervy Taranaki started poorly. By the time the new ball arrived the powerful Todd Watson and Thompson had added 20 in four overs, and both were set at the crease.

It was time for Ryan Watson and Frewin to once again produce some magic. But hey, things were not going to plan. HB’s Watson was finding the boundary and Thompson was ticking the score over with relative ease.

Fortunately, the Taranaki attack never relented. Watson and Frewin kept racing in and bowling with a fierce desire and pace. Then bang! Frewin struck Thompson on the pad, the whole Taranaki team roared, and the umpire raised his finger. The tent were out of their seats.

HB were not done yet though. Watson hit a powerful 51 before Bailey Wisnewski took a high catch deep on the boundary, much to everyone’s relief, and number ten batsman Liam McCarthy hit 37 from 35 balls before he was last out, caught and bowled brilliantly by the superman, Watson.

The polished batting from McCarthy posed the never-ending question as to why HB had not batted on in their first innings.

Watson bowled a mammoth 23.4 overs for his 4-60, making it 37.4 overs and 6 wickets in the match. Frewin’s 17 overs for 2 wickets added to his first innings tally saw him bowl 26 overs for six wickets. Fellow quick bowler Jordan Gard had match figures of 32 overs 3-82. They all did what they were asked to do, and did it well.

The spinners Carr, Thomas and Trent McGrath totalled 31 overs for their two wickets with all playing their part.

By late morning HB were 170 runs ahead. The game was still in the balance and HB had a skip back in their step.

The skip soon became a jump when Taranaki openers Wisnewski and Robinson, as well as Fastier, with a hard fought 21, were back in the pavilion. Where was this game heading?

When teams are in trouble the big boys front up. And man did they front up. Not another wicket was lost as Young and Liam Muggeridge batted with a composure and assuredness that only the best players can produce.

With 48 not out scored from 171 balls by Young, and 42 not out from 154 balls by Muggeridge, both players never straying from a state of total concentration and dedication, they combined for a partnership of 77, finally convincing HB it was time to shake hands and call it a day. Taranaki’s first innings advantage would win the cup.

There was a feeling of elation and relief. It had been 18 seasons since the cup was last in Taranaki. The Taranaki tent were bursting with pride, and so they should.

Like most quality teams, HB were gracious in defeat as Fastier received the cup, and soon the phones were clicking and memories being recorded. There were plenty of hugs and smiles.

This was an occasion to be cherished.

Coach Chris Coombe, captain Fastier and the troops had now won the Furlong Cup and Hawke Cup, six games on the trot.

The next installment will be in two weeks when the team defend the Hawke Cup against Hamilton at Pukekura Park. Don’t be late or there will be standing room only.