Nelson's hopes dashed

BY WAYNE MARTIN

The good news was that Nelson's top order batsmen finally showed some teeth.

But the bad news? It still wasn't enough to overcome a dogged Marlborough Hawke Cup cricket challenge at Saxton Oval yesterday.

Chasing 321 runs for first-innings points in reply to Marlborough's demanding 320 for seven declared on Saturday, Nelson were finally dismissed for 255 in yesterday's final session to end their Hawke Cup campaign on a disappointing note.

Andrew McCaa had been the mainstay of Marlborough's innings, scoring 128 runs off 271 balls to always ensure a competitive total.

Yet Nelson had appeared well in touch with the target for a good portion of yesterday's run chase, and at 167 for 3 – and even at 252 for 6 – were still a genuine chance of achieving their goal.

But when BJ Barnett went for 48 at 252 for 7, well caught by Bryce Smith diving forward at point off New Zealand under-19 left armer Ben Wheeler, the cracks began to appear in Nelson's armour.

With the second new ball in hand, seamer Greg Hegglun hastened Nelson's tail-order slump when he trapped debutant Jon Routhan lbw for a duck just three runs later.

Peter Younghusband had been showing admirable application and restraint, facing 82 balls before he edged Wheeler through to Jerrym Lamb at slip for 15 at 255 for 9. When Wheeler had Marty King out lbw for a duck next ball, the match was over as Nelson's last four wickets fell for just three runs.

After some low returns this representative summer, Nelson's top six batsmen were finally among the runs as opener Dan Cooper (36), skipper Mark Gardiner (68), Ryan Edwards (36) and Barnett made important contributions. Parternships of 72 between Cooper and Gardiner for the second wicket, 54 between Gardiner and Edwards for the fourth, and a 67-run seventh-wicket stand between Barnett and Younghusband kept Nelson's hopes simmering. Sadly for the home team, the combined persistence of offspinner Nick d'Auvergne, Wheeler and Hegglun proved even more conclusive.

D'Auvergne achieved some crucial breakthroughs, removing Cooper, Gardiner and the experienced Mark Douglas (4) before the two seamers returned to frustrate Nelson with the new ball. All three bowlers finished with three wickets each, stifling Nelson's chase, after Gardiner and Barnett in particular had looked set for big scores.

Gardiner displayed much of his characteristic finesse with some sweetly-timed drives, eventually hitting 10 fours during his 141-ball innings. Barnett's 83-ball innings included six fours.

Edwards went in odd circumstances, Hegglun not even bothering to appeal when his delivery thumped into the right-hander's pads. But the field went up, and so did umpire Dave Paterson's finger as Nelson were reduced to 185 for 5.

Marlborough's innings had been based around two big partnerships, with century-maker McCaa featuring in both.

His 72-run fourth-wicket stand with Jackson Pearce (42) had helped to increase the run flow after a subdued start to the innings. It was McCaa's 114-run fifth-wicket partnership with Josh Poole (56) that ensured Nelson's run chase would always be a substantial one as Nelson's bowlers struggled through Saturday's second session.

Marty King had conceded only three runs off his opening 10-over spell, including an impressive eight maidens. He ultimately emerged as Nelson's busiest bowler, completing 30 overs for figures of 2-75, but, like the rest of Nelson's attack, he struggled to maintain consistent pressure as Marlborough's batsmen began to dominate after returning from the Saturday lunch break at 82 for 2.

With McCaa and Poole steadily assuming control, Marlborough had pushed the total through to a daunting 238 for 4 by tea. McCaa eventually brought up his century when he worked Routhan to the mid-wicket boundary, having faced 201 balls. He was finally gone at 320 for 7, lbw to offspinner Chris Bartholomeusz, to prompt the declaration.

Brendan Hodgson took 3-43 off 17 overs for the best return, while Routhan settled for 1-72 off his 25-over contribution as the heat and a flattening wicket meant a taxing day in the field for Nelson's bowlers.

Nelson had resumed yesterday at 16 without loss after facing four overs on Saturday. They showed some fight before ultimately falling short against a tight Marlborough attack and a supportive field.

- © Fairfax NZ News