Taranaki hold an advantage

Day 1: South Canterbury: 141. Jordy Gard 5-37. Liam Carr 3-6. Ryan Watson 2-43

Taranaki : 3-93. Dean Robinson 43. Rupert Young 36no.

At the completion of day 1 in Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki’s Hawke Cup defence against South Canterbury, there are a few quiet smiles amongst the local squad, but more importantly, a deep understanding and realization that nothing can be taken for granted in the crazy world of cricket.

Trailing by 48 runs with 7 wickets in hand gives a team a huge advantage, but only if the advantage is rammed home. As is the norm in many games, the first session in day 2 will play a big part on how the game rolls.

Taranaki will be looking to build a dominant total with the loss of no more than a couple of wickets before lunch, whilst the men from the south will sense a big session with plenty of wickets, will keep them in the game. There is ample time for a result with six sessions still to run their course.

South Canterbury has certainly taken a positive approach to this fixture. When skipper Jacob Naylor won the toss, every hardened old former Taranaki player, who by now were having a coffee following their breakfast with the Taranaki team, had anticipated they would bowl.

After all, they had all hobbled out to the middle prior to the coffee, put their thumb into the surface, and with great knowledge, declared it was a bowler’s track. It was still slightly damp, slightly green, and who could be sure of the bounce. Yep, Yardles would be hard to play on that track.

Naylor obviously had other ideas by batting, and in no time at all South Canterbury had rattled along to 30. What was going on?

There were a lot of embarrassed oldies whose predictions cannot be repeated. They should have known that predicting how a track will play can only realistically be done after about four overs.

Big bruising Ryan Watson wasn’t hitting his length and Freakish Ben Frewin, although having multiple LBW shouts, was missing the edge and the stumps. Something had to change.

And it did. Up steps the ever reliable, ever accurate, ever determined Jordan Gard. The blood running through the veins has a hint of Dennis Yardley, a successful all-rounder and skipper from years gone by, and although Gard races in a lot quicker, the results are very similar.

Boompa. Beck is gone. Watson pockets another catch. Boompa. Rooney is gone. It is Watson this time. Boompa. Brown is gone. The change brought about 3 wickets for 17. Taranaki are applying the pressure.

Then a useful partnership develops. From 5-61 Davenport and Brookland steadied the innings and it was soon 5-101.

Up steps the magician Liam Carr, to join his buddy Gard. In a matter of ten overs Carr and Gard have destroyed the South Canterbury innings.

With a skip and a jump and a clever arm, Carr weaves his magic and finishes with 3-6 from 5 overs.

At the other end Gard is full of steam and there is no holding him back. The final wicket of Armstrong provides Gard with the bowling analysis of 5-37.

There are Taranaki smiles all round. South Canterbury, after winning the toss, had amassed only 141. There is no way they would have been happy with that.

This was a pitch that promised a lot more for the batting side.

There is another argument that the pitch should not be judged until both teams have had a turn. Up step openers, the legendary Dean Robinson and the efficient Bailey Wisnewski.

Racing up with the ball are speedsters Caird and McKerrow. The show is on.

In an impressive display of quick and accurate bowling Caird and McKerrow made Robinson and Wisnewski battle for every run. This was perhaps the best directed attack the team had come up against all season, and with a hint of the ball not ‘coming on’ to the bat, the batsmen were careful and patient.

Eventually Wisnewski looked for a pull shot and hit it sweetly enough, but even sweeter was a diving catch by Carlaw. Taranaki 1-16.

Skipper Sam Fastier blocked one then looked to block the next one. It was through. Caird, racing in and giving it everything, had two wickets. Taranaki had little wobbles.

The in-form Rupert Young joined Robinson. What would happen? These are two of the giants in the batting line-up. Both batted with assuredness, waiting for the full ball, and dispatching it to the boundary.

The Taranaki tent settled back in their seats. There were only a few overs to go. Two down for 93 would end a great first day.

But of course, cricket throws up little twists and turns when they are least expected. McKerrow had come back into the attack, still racing in at top pace, and he trapped Robinson in front. As disappointed as everyone was this has been a crucial 43 and a partnership of 76 with Young has provided a great base to kick on from.

Just to prove the Yardles’ blood was still flowing, Gard headed out as the ‘night watchman’.

Watch this space.