Having survived a strong challenge from Nelson, Canterbury Country faced another South Island challenge next up for the 2023 summer.
Zone 4 qualifier Otago Country, aka the Tussocks, made the trip up from Alexandra and surrounds to Rangiora, a team managed by former BLACKCAP Shayne O'Connor whose son Thomas, an Otago U19 rep this season, was part of the squad.
But Canterbury Country's third defence of the current tenure was a much more straightforward affair than their previous defence as they showed no mercy against their mainland cousins. Regular holders of the silverware in recent years, it was also the first time Canterbury Country had chalked up this many consecutive defences.
Wiry Canterbury quick Fraser Sheat brought his pace to a strong Canterbury Country squad that also featured Canterbury first-class reps Blake Coburn and Harry Chamberlain
The defenders' full squad was Archie Redfern, Rhys Mariu, Harry Chamberlain, Jesse Frew, Tim Gruijters, Angus Sidey, Matt Laffey, Fraser Sheat, Blake Coburn, Sam Chamberlain, James Watson and George Gunn.
Otago Country (below) brought Taylor Cumberland, Michael Goldstein, Sukhdev Singh, Cam Jackson (w), Jeremy Gray, Charanjeet Singh, Josh Shackleton, Steve Hobson, Toby Hart, Tom Myles, Sam Blakely and Thomas O’Connor.
DAY ONE
After drizzly weather in Rangiora and a lengthy ground delay, an early lunch was taken before Otago Country captain Sam Blakely won the toss and elected to bat, play starting at 1.30pm with two sessions in the opening day.
Four wickets fell in the first of them, the challengers heading in for the tea break at 67/4.
Things didn't look up for Otago Country in the final session as they were made to work hard for partnerships - the best being a stand of 34 for the sixth wicket between Goldstein and Singh.
The challengers were rolled for 123 inside 46 overs, Coburn picking up 3-21 and Jesse Frew 2-22 with wickets shared around all seven of the home attack.
Otago Country then braced themselves for what would turn into a long time in the dirt as Canterbury Country began work on a mammoth reply, the hosts 61 without loss by the end of the first day.
DAY TWO
Otago Country started the second morning well, Canterbury Country openers Archie Redfern (39*) and Rhys Mariu (22*) permitted to add just 10 further runs before captain Blakely made the breakthrough with Redfern on his way.
Mariu (62) recombined with Harry Chamberlain and built a steady 48-run stand for the second wicket before a runout cost him his wicket, but Chamberlain evidently wasn't planning on going anywhere for a long time.
The first drop would bat for more than five hours, his individual knock of 165 more than Otago Country's collective first innings.
Enjoying his work with 22 boundaries and two sixes, Chamberlain took his side past the 350-mark, after having shared a definitive 241-run stand with young Frew, who reached 86 before he was trapped by Singh.
The pair had batted together for the entire middle session, and Chamberlain trucked past his 150 before drinks in the last session of an exasperating day for the challengers.
Finally the young O'Connor had him caught at 360/4 in the 103rd over, Canterbury Country going on to 399/4 by stumps with Tim Gruitjers and Gus Sidey taking over the run-scoring duties.
DAY THREE
It was straight back to the grindstone for Otago Country's attack as Canterbury Country batted on, Sidey and Gruitjers growing their overnight stand.
The outcome of the match was inevitable, but Canterbury Country set themselves a challenge to not just go past 400, but 500 in their innings.
Singh had the consolation of a second wicket when he trapped Gruijters at 439/5, but Sidey carried on to finish unbeaten on 64*, Matt Laffey also with a half century and the hosts still only five down when the captains shook hands at lunchtime at 526/5.
HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES
24-26 February 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 2 Challenger, Hawke's Bay - Challenge postponed (Cyclone Gabrielle)
10-12 March 2023
Hawke Cup Holder Canterbury Country v Zone 1 Challenger Waikato Valley
From 10.30am at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
