Catches are all-important

The old cricketing adage of "catches win matches" is ringing in the ears of the Wairarapa senior men's team as they prepare for their crucial Hawke Cup elimination match against Horowhenua-Kapiti to be played at Levin tomorrow and Sunday.
Selection convener Dermot Payton admits he vented his frustration at a training session this week over Wairarapa dropping something like 14 catches during their remarkable come-from-behind victory over Taranaki at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval last weekend, and he is making no excuses for doing so.
"Yes, we ended up winning the game but we can't allow the result to hide the fact our catching was shocking ... and that's being kind," Payton said. "That sort of fielding effort is inexcusable at any level of the game, that's all there is to it."
Payton is at a loss, however, to explain the reasons behind the shoddy fielding.
" It's unexplainable really. Maybe it's a technique thing, maybe it's a lack of concentration ... whatever it is we have to get it right," he said. "You don't need to be a rocket scientist to realise you shouldn't even come close to winning games when you drop that many catches, and, quite frankly, we wouldn't have but for Taranaki making a pretty bold second innings declaration".
Bold it was, Taranaki setting Wairarapa a target of 270 runs in 53 overs for the outright win after the visitors led by a massive 172 runs on the first innings. And with skipper Sam Curtis leading the way with a magnificent 120 not out Wairarapa got up in the last over with just a couple of balls to spare.
The eight competition points secured for that win took Wairarapa to 22pts in zone two of the Hawke Cup series, equal with Hawke's Bay and just two ahead of Marlborough.
This situation means the final series of zone two round-robin games this weekend will decide who goes on to challenge Hamilton for the Hawke Cup the following weekend, and throws up all sorts of questions in the process.
Firstly, there is the weather. The long-range forecast has most of the lower North Island experiencing showers tomorrow but will they be enough to seriously disrupt the first day's action at Levin, or in Hastings where Hawke's Bay will be playing Wanganui.
Secondly is the toss. How will the doubts over the weather affect the decision-making of the captain who calls correctly?
Will they opt to bat first with the thought the pitch conditions will likely deteriorate as the match progresses, thereby making batting more difficult, or will they bowl first, and trust any moisture will provide extra zip for their quicker bowlers?
Then there is the tactical approach. Do they increase the risk factor in an endeavour to earn an outright win (worth 12pts if it comes after a first innings lead or 8pts after a first innings deficit) or do they take a more conservative stance with the aim of making a first innings lead (worth 7pts) their number one priority.
In Wairarapa's case the knowledge that should they finish the round-robin equal on points with Hawke's Bay then the Bay will edge them out for the Cup challenge on countback will obviously be taken into account when match tactics are being discussed.
Also important, of course, will be the attitude of the Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wanganui teams, both of whom have had very disappointing campaigns to date and who are going into their last two-day games of the season with nothing to play for other than pride.
How aggressive will they be in chasing victory, especially if an outright win to their opposition depends on a generous declaration from them ?Will they play ball in such circumstances or simply settle for a draw.?
The Wairarapa line-up for the Levin match contains just the one change from that which beat Taranaki. Spinner Paul Bracewell is on maternity leave and his place in the 12 has been taken by Lansdowne medium pacer Mark Scully, who has been a profilic wicket-taker on the club scene.
Scully will probably take the field when Wairarapa bowls but will be left out of their batting side, something which is allowable under the Hawke Cup rules, and Dermot Payton is confident he will do a good job for them.
"He's quite lively in terms of pace and he consistently makes the batsmen play ... he could be very handy for us," Payton said of Scully. "To win outright you have to take 20 wickets, and the more you attack the stumps the better your chances of doing just that."
The absence of Bracewell does leave Wairarapa a spinner short, however, and means Brad Edwards can anticipate a heavy workload if the pitch takes more turn than generally anticipated.
Captain Curtis could also have a bigger part to play in that respect.He is very much a part-timer at the bowling crease but can be a useful performer in the spin department when required.
The full Wairarapa team is: Sam Curtis, Brad Edwards, Alex Treseder, Simon Butler, Henry Cameron, Robbie Anderson, Robin James, Seth Rance, Daniel Ingham, Dane Buchanan, Duncan Didsbury, Mark Scully.