Wairarapa suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Manawatu in their Hawke Cup qualifying senior men's cricket match played at Palmerston North on Friday and Saturday.
After winning the toss Wairarapa decided to bat on a Fitzherbert Park pitch which looked full of runs but they had little answer to
the pace of current Central Districts and former Wairarapa pace bowler Ewan Thompson. He took 5-53 from 17 overs and was mainly responsible for Wairarapa being all out for just 161.
Top order batsmen Sam Curtis (22) and Willie Tatham (23), along with Joe Hull (20) and Seth Rance (21), were the only Wairarapa batsmen to even make the 20's.
Manawatu, however, fared little better in their first innings, scoring 191 for a 31-run lead. Only three of their players got into double figures with opener Murray's 66 the highlight.
The Wairarapa attack was led by Seth Rance who finished with 4-41 from his 12.4 overs while Dean van Deventer was sharp in taking 2-25 from 13 overs and spinner Chad Yates showed good control in his 21 overs which produced 3-56. There was also two overs from Paul Lyttle, who actually kept wickets in the previous game against Wanganui but was replaced behind the stumps on this occasion by Wairarapa College 'keeper Alex Treseder, who took two catches.
Wairarapa's second innings started promisingly with openers Brad Edwards (38) and Sam Curtis (42) both looking in good touch but once they were gone only hard hitting Brock Price (31) and Seth Rance (46) showed much resistance. In the end they were all out for 225, thus leaving Manawatu 194 runs to get for the outright win.
An unbeaten 94 by Central Districts wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs ensured the home team managed that target in 33.3 overs with their total sitting on 196-2 when stumps were drawn.
The Wairarapa pacemen were punished unmercifully and both wickets were taken by spinner Yates who finished with 2-46 from his 12 overs.
