North Otago win cup for first time

Former Christchurch cricketer Darren Broom played a pivotal part in North Otago's historic Hawke Cup victory this week in Palmerston North after not being expected to play.

Broom scored 133 in North Otago's second innings on their way to a 159-run victory at Fitzherbert Park in the final cup challenge of the season.

It is the first time in the 100 year history of district association cricket that North Otago, one of the smallest cricket regions in New Zealand, has captured the prize. Three previously unsuccessful challenges had resulted in hidings.

North Otago Cricket chairman Peter Cameron believed the win was the region's greatest sporting success. He rated it ahead of the region's recent Heartland rugby triumphs.

"That's because you come up against first-class cricketers in the Hawke Cup competition which doesn't happen with the rugby players."

Broom, who shifted from Canterbury to Otago during the last off-season to further his career, is playing at club level in Dunedin but appeared in two of North Otago's Hawke Cup zone qualifying matches.

"Darren fulfills the criteria of eligibility to play [for North Otago] under New Zealand Cricket's rules," Cameron said.

Broom's appearance was not well received during the qualifying series by Southland who objected to his inclusion.

North Otago was a surprise qualifier from the five-team southern zone after losing to Central Otago outright.

Central only needed to secure first innings points against either Southland or South Canterbury to become the challenger, but failed to do so. Broom was not expected to play in the challenge against Manawatu after being listed in the Otago team for their Plunket Shield match against Canterbury.

However, his older brother, Neil Broom, was discarded from the New Zealand team playing Australia and flew back to Queenstown, displacing his brother in the Otago side.

Darren The younger Broom then joined drove to Dunedin to depart with the North Otago side the next day.

North Otago chose to bat first against Manawatu in the challenge game earlier this week.

They slumped to 116 for nine before a remarkable last-wicket stand between Duncan Drew (102) and David Sewell (37no) advanced their score to 207.

Manawatu were handily placed at 90 for three, but fell apart under the pressure generated by Sewell, a former long-serving Otago fast bowler, and Ben Cant who is now at Lincoln University on a scholarship and playing for Lancaster Park-Woolston. Manawatu were dismissed for 159 and then Darren Broom crafted his match-winning 133.

Manawatu needed 311 at about four an over. The home side was dismissed for 151.

Cameron said the win had energised Oamaru. "It's been a great boost for cricket in the region."

North Otago is likely to face their first challenger from the southern zone next year.

Short scoreboard: North Otago 207 (Duncan Drew 102, David Sewell 37no; Bryn Templeman 6-56, Johnny Lash 3-42) and 262 (Darren Broom 133, Chris Smith 32, Ben Cant 28; Jarrod Cunningham 5-99, Templeman 2-57) beat Manawatu 159 (Ian Sandbrook 38, David Meiring 22; Sewell 3-50, Cant 3-29) and 151 (Will Murie 26, Matthew Short 27, Sandbrook 21; Sewell 3-31, David Simpson 2-68, Smith 3-23) by 159 runs.

- © Fairfax NZ News