Cricket: Mostert stars as North Otago wins Hawke Cup

The victorious North Otago team with the spoils following its Hawke Cup win against Buller...
The victorious North Otago team with the spoils following its Hawke Cup win against Buller yesterday. Photo by North Otago Cricket Association.
The Hawke Cup, the symbol of supremacy in minor association cricket, is back in Oamaru, after North Otago defeated holder Buller by 133 runs at Craddock Park yesterday.

North Otago's win was convincing, dismissing Buller with two sessions and 30 minutes remaining on the final day as the home side fell well short of its target of 287 to retain the cup.

The victory means the cup returns to North Otago for the first time in five years. North Otago won the minor associations prize off Manawatu in 2010 before losing it to Otago Country in 2011.

North Otago manager Hamish McMurdo said the artificial pitch presented its own problems, which were reflected in the relatively low scores.

‘‘It was actually pretty challenging to bat on, as the scores reflected,'' McMurdo said.

‘‘It was loose, so it changed with the heat of the day and it's been hot here.''

After taking a 83-lead into the second day, North Otago's second innings started slowly, losing opener Lachie Kingan with the total at one.

Ben Cant (22) and Duncan Drew took the total to 28 before Cant became Troy Scanlon's second victim of the morning.

Drew (six) went three runs later and, with the addition of only six runs, Jeremy Smith became Scanlon's fourth victim.

Stephan Grobler and Francois Mostert took North Otago through to 81 before Mostert was caught behind by Troy Adams for 20 in the last over of the morning, giving Scanlon his fifth wicket of the morning and figures of five for 37 off 16 overs.

McMurdo said Scanlon was a ‘‘man mountain'' for Buller.

‘‘They fight - no doubt about that - and that's one of the things we spoke about before play, that we've got to earn it,'' he said.

‘‘Full credit to Troy Scanlon and his team. He's a man mountain to be fair. He's pretty much dead currently, but he's a fighter.''

At lunch on the second day, North Otago had an overall lead of 164, with five wickets in hand and worked through to 203 all out at the tea break.

Stephan Grobler top-scored with 61 and 17-year-old Llewellyn Johnson was unbeaten on 44.

McMurdo said the three-day challenge meant batting time was more important than ever.

‘‘We spoke a lot about just knuckling down,'' he said.

‘‘Time's a great ally if you use it right. Obviously, Stephan and Drewser [Duncan Drew] in the first innings understood that and really cemented us in to a good position.

‘‘And then contributions from Llewy Johnson and Andrew Grubb down the order [in the second innings] meant we could have something competitive.''

Buller's chase of 287 started slowly, the home team losing its first two wickets for 37, before Nik Cumming took to the North Otago attack and hit a rapid-fire 65 from 68 balls.

He was dismissed at 111 after Buller lost Alistair Burnett at 108 and Buller at stumps was 126 for five.

Francois Mostert had two of Buller's day two wickets, and set about cleaning up Buller yesterday morning, finishing with six for 31 and 13 wickets for the match as Buller was dismissed for 153.

‘‘Another 10-wicket bag is just making a statement to all and sundry that he's a quality bowler and he's dangerous. He's got a big heart, and runs in and tries hard and gets great reward for it,'' McMurdo said.

North Otago's first defence will be against Hawkes Bay at Milner Park on February 26.

‘‘We'll have to reset,'' McMurdo said.

‘‘It's a different thing trying to defend it than claim it, so we'll have to recalibrate and see if we can't do the business again. We'll certainly be having a go.''

By Terry O'Neill and Matt Smith. 

 

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