Wakeling turns the tide

Hugo Walking, bamboozled opposing batsmen in taking eight wickets. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A REMARKABLE bowling effort by Year 10 leg spinner Hugo Wakeling provided the highlight of Wairarapa College's 90-run win over Wanganui High School in a 40-over 1st XI match at Victoria Park, Wanganui, last Friday.

Wakeling completely bamboozled the Wanganui High batsmen with his control of flight and length in taking 8-15 in his 6.5 overs and leaving them well short of the 190 Wairarapa College had posted when they won the toss and elected to bat first. They started in disastrous fashion, losing their first three wickets for just six runs, but a fourth wicket partnership between Brad Griffith and Guy Percy steadied the ship. They carried the score through to 84 before Percy was caught on the boundary for 22. He had faced 42 balls and struck three boundaries.

Griffith continued to bludgeon anything short and also picked up ones and twos with ease, reaching 50 from 38 balls. He was eventually dismissed for 86, from a smart catch trying to clear the infield. He faced 79 balls and and found the boundary on 11 occasions. The lower order chipped away with Ben Steventon hitting a cameo 16 from 17 balls and Oliver Bunny lasting 25 balls for his 12 and Wairarapa College were eventually dismissed in the 38th over for 190. The pick of the Wanganui bowlers was Tim Roebuck, who picked up 4-18 from his seven overs.

The Wairarapa College total seemed no better than a par score and they needed to start well in the field to keep themselves in the game. Despite a superb opening spell from Guy Percy, a couple of catches went down, edges went for fours and Wanganui found themselves 55/0 one ball before the drinks break (at 13 overs). Then Wakeling made the first breakthrough with Chad Coley taking a diving catch at square leg.

With the first ball after drinks Brad Griffith took a sharp caught and bowled and suddenly there was a momentum shift. Wakeling picked up his second wicket with the score at 73 and from there on he dominated the stage with what Wairarapa College coach Alistair Payne described as a "fantastic display" of spin bowling.

In the boys' colts match Wairarapa College batted first, reaching 176/8 in their 30 overs. Jake Young top scored with 44 while useful knocks from Patrick Wootton (27), Sam Murray (19) and Sam Silvester (18) ensured they would set a challenging total. In reply, Wanganui never got going. Early pressure with the ball and some excellent fielding restricted the hosts to be all out for just 50. Zac Vainu was the pick of the Wairarapa College bowlers, taking 3-21 while Eric Bargh 2-5, and Craig Pankhurst 2-5 also bowled well. Wairarapa College won by 126 runs.

The girls' 1st XI match saw Wairarapa College batting first and making 225 in their 30 overs. Annissa Greenlees top scored with a classy 97 not out. Georgia Atkinson was also not out on 37 and Caitlin Elliott made 16. In reply, NZA and Central Hinds rep Joanna Watkins led the chase for Wanganui High, hitting the ball all around the ground and scoring 157 not out. Her effort ensured Wanganui High School reached their target for victory for the loss of only two wickets in the 25th over. Amy Fitzgerald (1-23) and Kayarna Jones-Dennes (1-25) were the successful bowlers for Wairarapa College.