Cautious approach the best bet to last two days

PATIENCE: Kelsey Fahey, a key member of the Wairarapa attack.PHOTO/FILE

WHETHER their batsmen can curb their natural attacking instincts and occupy the crease for long periods could decide the fate of Wairarapa in their Hawke Cup qualifying round cricket match with Manawatu at Rathkeale College this weekend.

The Wairarapa line-up is stacked with players who like to go for their shots when they are at the batting crease and they will need to recognise that Hawke Cup matches are played over two days, meaning that a more cautious approach often reaps the richest rewards, both individually and collectively.

Manawatu are invariably a powerful side who held the Hawke Cup for a time last season. To be expected from a team coached by former Black Cap paceman Michael Mason, the fire and consistency of their bowling is usually one of their biggest attributes. They are sure to place the emphasis on making early inroads into the Wairarapa batting and the home team will be doing themselves a huge favour if they can avoid that happening, even if it means initially adopting tactics more aimed at preserving wickets.

Ironically it is a player who plays his club cricket in Manawatu, Palmerston North Boys High pupil Mason Hughes, who will need to have a major influence on the Wairarapa batting effort. He had a couple of impressive knocks, including a 90, when he made his debut for the province at the Chapple Cup limited-overs tourney and the manner in which he went about his work there suggests he has both the temperament and technique to be even more successful in the two-day arena.

Big hopes will also be pinned on the very much in-form Robbie Speers who seldom gives his wicket away easily and if Brock Price, Henry Cameron, Liam Burling, Paul Lyttle, George Deans and Gordon Reisima are prepared to play each ball on its merits they certainly have the range of shots when the looser deliveries come along to make a decent impact with the bat too. Lyttle has recovered from a shoulder problem and will take up the wicketkeeping gloves.

The absence of Central Stag Seth Rance will obviously weaken the Wairarapa attack for it leaves them without a bowler of genuine pace. But with Rathkeale groundsman Brian James predicting that, providing the weather gods play their part, the pitch will flatten out into an excellent batting track, the maintenance of good line and length might be more of a requisite for success for the bowlers than sheer pace anyway. How the likes of Stefan Hook-Sporry, Kelsey Fahey, Drew MacDonald and Quintin McKenna respond to that challenge promises to be another important factor in the end result.

On the club front there will be one Umpire's Cup match played tomorrow with Red Star and Wairarapa College shifting the date of their scheduled November 28 game to this weekend. Red Star have been in the news of late for the more than 100 extras they conceded in their big loss to Lansdowne but it has to be said that an experienced 'keeper might have kept the number of runs from wides (80) to somewhat lesser proportions.When one run becomes five on a regular basis the score tends to rise at a rapid rate. That Red Star have the ability to put Wairarapa College to the test can't be doubted but, all things considered, the students do deserve to start favourites.