Taranaki smash it again!

Whitaker Civil Engineering Taranaki stepped up in every aspect of the game this weekend, taking the maximum 16 points from their clash in Levin against Horowhenua-Kapiti.

With Manawatu falling to Hawkes Bay in their round 4 clash, Taranaki will go into the final game against Manawatu sitting on 56 points, six points ahead of Manawatu, their major opposition at the top of the table.

The ‘winner take all’ fixture will decide who earns the right for a Hawke Cup challenge at the end of January against Hawkes Bay.

The only time Horowhenua-Kapiti would have felt they were in the game was winning the toss and dismissing in-form Taranaki batsman Bailey Wisnewski second ball of the day. From then on it was all downhill.

Taranaki’s own giant of a batsman, Dean Robinson, carefully worked his way to yet another century, making that 16 in total, twice as many as the next man, before he upped the tempo and finished on 154. The man is a machine.

Jacob Leuthard-Richards settled into his role at number 3, quickly moved to an accomplished 50, then more sedately ticked things over, before he lost his wicket five short of a deserved century, on 95.

The partnership between Robinson and Leuthard-Richards clocked up 195, the best for the season to date, before Leuthard-Richards lost his wicket when he smashed it to mid-on, only for a brilliant catch to be taken. Some days luck turns it head at a crucial time.

Rupert Young arrived at number four, and he was quickly into his stride. At nearly a run a ball 67 he and Robinson added another 125 runs in quick time, allowing a declaration at 320-3 when Robinson was dismissed.

The team was humming.

Quickies Ryan Watson and John Beale were quickly into their stride grabbing three early wickets.

Just when HK started to look settled with 61-3 on the board, skipper Jordan Gard introduced the fit again speedster Ben Frewin, and very quickly Frewin took three wickets and HK were stumbling around at 7-74.

Frewin’s first spell saw him take 3-9, not a bad reintroduction to the rep team.

Batting at nine for HK Carter Andrews then showed the fighting spirit required and hit a well compiled 53 before Gard took care of things.

With the tail wagging HK moved on to 175 before spinner Liam Carr finally bamboozled No 11 Zack Benton.

Taranaki then enforced the follow-on with HK still 145 runs in arrears.

Apart from Jamie Pinfold hitting 43 batting at six, there was a constant flow of wickets, and for Taranaki it was just a matter of time before they would wrap up a maximum 16 pointer.

Big fasty, Watson, was quickly into stride and finished with three wickets, but it was the left-arm spin twins, experienced Mattie Thomas and the new kid on the block, Liam Carr, who sewed things up.

Thomas finished with 3-19 and Carr 2-18 as HK made it through to 125, still 20 runs behind.

This is a team enjoying their cricket, playing for each other, and pulling together through the challenging periods.

Head coach Chris Coombe was thrilled with the win.

“These results are so much more gratifying when you watch the boys laugh and have fun on the field, play for each other, and pull together through both the good and challenging periods.”

The next goal is to beat Manawatu and earn the right to challenge for the Hawke Cup.

Pukekura Park will be the place to be on January 18/19. This is what every rep cricketer plays for – playing in crucial games where only the best will do.

Full competition details including match scorecards are available here at PlayHQ

Photo caption: Dean Robinson bought up another century for Taranaki and made it all the way through to 154.