Yesterday's rain almost certainly deprived Wairarapa of crucial first innings points in their Hawke Cup qualifying senior men's cricket match with Hawke's Bay at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton over the weekend.
Wairarapa went into the game as rank underdogs after suffering a decisive defeat at the hands of the Bay in a limited-overs game the previous Sunday, but were clearly the dominant team on this occasion.
Batting first on a pitch which provided good bounce for the opposition "quickies" Wairarapa built on the solid start given them by openers Henry Cameron and Aaron Bidlake to reach 255 all out.
Cameron , the Central Districts under-19 captain, top scored with 59 and while troubled at times by the pace of the Bay's impressive Taria Robin, was never afraid to go hard at any loose delivery. Two cracking drives through the covers for four were the highlight of his knock.
The experienced Chris Jefferies also showed the ability to find the boundary when the opportunity arose in making 38 and there was some intelligent hitting too from Shane Mellor who made 31.
Robin took 3-42 for Hawke's Bay and fellow paceman Jeremy Kuru finished 3-62.
It was the Wairarapa bowlers who called the tune when Hawke's Bay started their first innings. They lost two cheap wickets and never recovered, being perilously placed at 101-7 when stumps were drawn.
Hayden Spierling led the Wairarapa attack. He maintained a good line and length in taking 3-28 and was given good support by his Greytown clubmate Mellor
Unfortunately for Wairarapa not a ball was bowled in anger yesterday due to the rain, which set in early in the morning and continued through most of the day. It made for a disappointing end to the match but Wairarapa selector Ngatai Walker was still delighted with the all-round performance of his side.
"We gutsed it out well when we batted and our bowlers were magnificent?.you couldn't really ask for more," he said.
Changes will, however, have to be made to the Wairarapa line-up when they are at home to Marlborough in another Hawke Cup qualifying match next Saturday and Sunday. Cameron will be on duty with the Central Districts under-19s and also unavailable is all-rounder Greg McLeod.
Rain dampens chance of Hawke Cup upset
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