Canterbury Country will host the next Hawke Cup Challenge match in Rangiora after surviving a late scare against Nelson in the first defence of 2022/23.
To lift the Hawke Cup, a team must win outright or win on the first innings and, as the clock ticked down on the final evening session of the first Challenge of the season, Nelson got Canterbury Country nine down in the first innings - with the defenders still 62 runs in deficit and three balls remaining in the game.
A wicket in those three balls would have seen the Cup hit the road to Saxton Oval, but last man George Gunn survived the final three delliveries from first-class paceman Jarrod Mckay (who had claimed a bag with that last-over wicket, finishing with 5-63) to keep the cup in Rangiora.
DAY ONE
Visiting Nelson captain Ollie Jones-Allen won the toss and batted in the first Challenge Match of the official 2022/23 season, after Canterbury Country had uplifted the silverware in the 2021/22 'catch-up' challenges played at the start of the summer.
Nelson brought a strong side that included Central Stags Plunket Shield veteran Greg Hay and Otago Volts paceman Jarrod Mckay both turning out for their home province, and both would play an integral role in Nelson's chances as the match boiled down to a close one.
But first things first.
A solid top/middle order effort from the Nelson Griffs saw them reach 268/5 by the close of the first day's play.
Opener and wicketkeeper-batter Nic Clark had provided a good start with an adventurous 59 before he became the first of what would prove to be four victims for Canterbury unorthodox spinner Blake Coburn.
Hay top-scored with 80, batting at first drop and sharing a century stand with number four (and one of identical twins in the side) Thomas Zohrab (41).
By lunch, the runs were flowing steadily at 117/2, and Hay and Zohrab almost succeeded in batting through the middle session before Zohrab fell to Coburn at 191/3.
Canterbury Country's attack was forced to toil some more after the tea break to dislodge new batter Finn Raxworthy (60), who would also go on to reach a half century.
The wicket of Hay was gold for the hosts, and young Jesse Frew eventually did the honours, with Hay caught by sub fielder Gus Sidey, who served as a concussion sub for Tim Gruitjers in the game.
At stumps, Raxworthy was still going strong, now partnered by David Zohrab and set to resume the first dig at 268/5.
DAY TWO
Canterbury Country was anxious for early wickets to stop Nelson from barrelling on in what already looked like a first-innings result scenario.
But the teams turned up to showery weather on the second day, an early lunch taken, playing cards out, and a long wait in store to get back on the park.
Finally the weather behaved, and the teams got back on after 3pm. But the quick breakthrough was elusive as Raxworthy reached his half century, and the 50-run partnership with the second Zohrab twin David, for the sixth wicket.
They got the 300 on the board for Nelson before Rhys Mariu bowled Zohrab, Nelson declaring their innings shortly after tea, with Coburn finishing with 4-111 for his 37 overs of toil.
Canterbury Country knew they needed to get cracking to haul in the first-innings deficit in the time remaining in the match, and they got a strong and contrasting start from opening pair Mariu and Archie Redfern.
Allrounder Mariu (56) cracked a half century before becoming the only wicket to fall just before stumps, at 76/1 in the 23rd over.
Redfern was more circumspect, and had batted patiently for his 15 not out by the end of the day - set to resume on the last morning with occasional Canterbury first-class rep Harry Chamberlain who had yet to get off the mark.
DAY THREE
The big day arrived with no weather qualms, Redfern a rock at the top for his side as he progressed to his own half century - going to lunch still unbeaten on 49 not out, at 162/3.
McKay had meanwhile already pocketed two wickets for Nelson, and now more were needed in a big second session if they were to seize the first innings advantage.
The session proved to be a classic Hawke Cup arm wrestle, Nelson able to snaffle just the one wicket from it as the stoic Redfern was finally caught behind off Thomas Zohrab after an almost five-hour knock.
Tea saw Canterbury Country head into yet another crunch session at 229/4, still 122 runs behind Nelson's first innings tally and needing to be wary.
Sidey and Matt Laffey got themselves a 50-stand, going strong together until Sidey was caught by Hay off Thomas Zohrab on 78.
After Coburn departed for 28, the loss of wickets changed the tack, Canterbury Country pushed into defensive mode as Mckay began to put more victims in his bag.
The last hour was taken as Mckay embarked on his last five-over spell, which would see him claim three additional wickets - including the clutch strike in the last over, with three balls to go in the match, and victory now riding on whether he could clean up the last man for a six-fer.
But luck was on Canterbury Country's side as George Gunn survived the three critical balls, keeping the Hawke Cup in Rangiora for at least another fortnight as the stumps were pulled and a draw declared.
Otago Country, affectionately known as the Tussocks, will make the next challenge at Rangiora after having qualified top from Zone 4, the match to begin at Mainpower Oval on Friday, 10 February 2023.
HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
10-12 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 4 Challenger Otago Country
From 10.30am at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
24-26 February 2023
Updated: Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 2 Challenger, Hawke's Bay - Challenge postponed (Cyclone Gabrielle)
10-12 March 2023
Hawke Cup Holder v Zone 1 Challenger
From 10.30am at Holder's home ground
