Cricket: A dramatic end to the Hawke Cup defence

Ian Snook

Photo: Ryan Watson claimed the last wicket to retain the Hawke Cup in dramatic fashion. Photo by Hawke Cup Report. 

The most important session to win in a game of cricket is often the last one, and that’s what Taranaki did, they won the last session.

There is no way the written word can do justice to the events and emotions that took place in a short space of time after the tea break, but here goes.

In an unbelievable four overs, another amazing story in the annals of Hawke Cup cricket was written.

Canterbury Country had gone to tea at 311-8, with only six runs required for a victory, and with two further wickets in hand. They would have been paying 90cents at the TAB.

Will Williams, who had batted with complete control, was sitting on 41 from 145 balls and Ronnie Kapur, a big, hard-hitting lefty, had punched six 6’s in his 52 not out. The game was Canterbury Country’s for the taking.

Quite often a break in the game does funny things to people. Those in front think about what might go wrong, and those behind think about what might go right. It’s almost as if something is meant to change.

Taranaki regrouped, made a plan, were convinced they were still in the game, and headed back out.

Freakish Ben Frewin was given the ball. It was time to produce some magic. In a game that had been a battle of attrition for eight sessions, Canterbury Country had finally poked their noses in front. They were big noses. They were now the out and out favourites.

Frewin thought otherwise. Three balls in and Frewin adds some extra pace and bounce. Williams inside edges it on to his upper body and Liam Muggeridge gobbles the catch in delight.

There’s hooping and hollering around the ground.

No number 11 batsman wants to be left with the responsibility of winning the game, but that was now CT Cameron’s job as he slowly headed towards the middle. No doubt he said to his mate Kapur, “I’ll block it, you hit a six and let’s get out of here”.

He safely did that for the remainder of Frewin’s over and now the big paceman, and leader of the pack, Ryan Watson, had the job to bowl at the block, block, bash man, Kapur. Mind you there were plenty of big clean hits from the number 10. Along with Williams they had almost matched Taranaki’s 10th wicket partnership of 88, by scoring 82. Luckily it wasn’t 88!

Watson rocketed in, Kapur kept it out. He wasn’t ready yet. There would be more overs required.

Freakish Frewin, with a smile on his face, raced in once again. Cameron was composed. He played and missed at one, padded up to a couple, and did his job for the six balls.

Now it was Watson versus Kapur. Kapur had held the upper hand prior to tea but this was a different time, and he had lost his buddy Williams.

It’s time – he swings at the second ball, and it goes straight up and high. Watson is under it. The one thing you don’t do is drop a catch off your own bowling. Well, not normally.

Watson is circling around under the ball. Is the umpire in the way? Is the non-striker in the way? Where is the ball. He’s under it. It goes down.

The ground gobbles us up in the management tent. I’m back on my seat. What have we done?

Luckily the players are a lot calmer than those people viewing – well me anyway.

Watson digs it in and Kapur keeps it out. Watson is in again. He is straining to produce his best in his 24th over, but there is no let up. Tough guys win.

Kapur strikes it cleanly. Everyone follows the ball. Will it reach the boundary?

You bet it won’t. Positioned perfectly is skipper Sam Fastier. All eyes are on the leader. Boompa! It’s in the basket. Kapur is on his knees. Fastier produces his biggest smile in the three totally absorbing days, and well he might. He had led the boys to yet another victory.

The Taranaki boys are jubilant. The parents’ tent, the bench, and the supporters on the terraces are even more jubilant. This is unbelievable.

The Hawke Cup remains in Taranaki. This was an awesome game, won by Taranaki against a very high-level side, who were in the fight until the very end. It was tit for tat throughout, with Taranaki taking the final tat.

There are heaps of things to write about in this adventure. The little magician Liam Carr bowled 43 overs of top-class spin and bagged 4 wickets. Jordan Gard was a picture of accuracy and aggression grabbing two wickets for 38 from 22 overs.

Freakish Frewin grabbed the crucial wicket after tea to end up with 3-56 from 27 overs, and as justice was served, Watson deservedly took the last wicket.

Scoring 316 against a four-pronged first-class pace attack was nothing to be scoffed at either.

Trent McGrath, our own Garfield Sobers, continued his consistently high level form scoring 83 and the same can be said about Rupert Young, possibly the best keeper-batsman in provincial cricket, with his 57. The return to Taranaki of these two outstanding players has certainly played a big part in the success of the team.

This is a team in every sense of the word. Even the caterers are playing their part. The Canterbury boys said this was the best food they have ever had at any venue. Well done to ‘Field to Fork’.

South Canterbury will be here in two weeks. Don’t miss it.