When Manawatu coach Michael Mason heard Dane Cleaver had scored his third first-class century in Napier yesterday he paid tribute to his first-choice wicketkeeper.
"I'm so happy for him. It's great for Dane and great for the Stags," Mason said of the Central Districts player who scored an unbeaten 108 runs at No5 alongside Tom Bruce (115 runs) to surpass a record fourth-wicket partnership that Bruce set with captain William Young in Whangarei in 2014-15.
A former CD seamer, Mason was quick to reveal Cleaver was going to represent Manawatu as a batsman, if not wicketkeeper, if CD coach Heinrich Malan was OK with it.
"Dane wants to play for us," said the former Black Cap who will have his wish after Malan yesterday gave a thumbs up to batsmen but not bowlers taking part in Hawke Cup matches this weekend.
Their opposition at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, will be Hawke's Bay who have only bowlers playing for them in CD.