Hamilton snuff Bush challenge

Two mammoth partnerships help Hamilton snuff the spirited Wairarapa Bush in their second Hawke Cup Challenge of the season.

No less than eight former or current CricX clients were on show during Hamilton’s second defence of the Hawke Cup against the spirited Wairarapa Bush this weekend. After topping zone two, the Bush went into the game in fine form, albeit under-dogs against a Hamilton side comprising five Northern Districts contracted players, four others with at least one first-class match to their name, as well as New Zealand test wicketkeeper BJ Watling behind the stumps batting 6.

The Bush though, were fortunate though to escape the unenviable task of confronting Daniel Vettori, who was set to play in the three-day fixture before realising he had a wedding to attend. The loss of Vettori though, did not hamper Hamilton’s challenge as the star-studded batting line-up snuffed any chance of a Bush victory, batting almost two days to rack up 678 including three centurions.

Two mammoth partnerships off 307 between skipper Keir Bettley (145) and BJ Watling (170), then 203 between Andy Dodd (137) and former Otago Volts’ Bradley Scott (79) effectively snuffed any chance of the Bush chasing down Hamilton’s first-innings total.

However, the early loss of Northern Districts A skipper Michael Dodunski, then Knights first-class batsmen Mitch Santner, Anton Devcich and Brooke Hatwell left Hamilton tottering at 108-4 before the triple-century fourth wicket stand between ex-Brewood overseas player Bettley and Blackcap Watling. Leg-spinner and Carrickfergus (NCU) star Jamie Holmes produced a double break-through, dismissing both batsmen in the 133rd over, leaving Hamilton on 416 with four wickets in hand.

Nevertheless any sniff of dismissing the ‘tail’ quickly were quashed as ex Narborough pro Dodd and Scott racked up their double-century stand to bring up the 600, which was clearly going leave the Bush an impossible task of chasing down in just over one days’ play. The pick of the Bush bowlers were definitely the two spinners, who bowled 69 overs between them taking 7 wickets – leg-spinner Holmes with 4-132 and ex-Lechlade (and soon-to-be Brixham overseas) Matt Stringfellow taking 3-90 off his 39 economical overs’ off-spin.

In response, at the end of the second day’s play, Hamilton had reduced the Bush to 17-4, with Knights seamers Jimmy Baker and the lightening quick Andrew Mathieson bagging wickets. The third day saw some resistance from Henry Cameron and ex Oxted batsman Sammy Curtis along with some tail end fireworks from Seth Rance (32 runs from 21 balls), but Hamilton’s first-class bowling attack was too strong, with Bush’s challenge ending on 137 as Hamilton fend off their second challenge of the Hawke Cup season.

To view the Hawke Cup Challenge scorecard between Wairarapa Bush and Hamilton click here.