Wairarapa's 34 run innings a new record low probably

Cricket

Did Wairarapa set a record when they scored just 34 runs in the first innings of their Hawke Cup qualifying round cricket match with Taranaki at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, last weekend?

Inquiries suggest this may well have been the lowest first-innings score ever registered by a Wairarapa senior men's squad, although nobody is prepared to put money on it.

One source told the Times-Age the lowest total he could previously find was the 35 scored against Hutt Valley in 1899. Then there was the 36 managed against Hawke's Bay in 1909 in a game which saw Wairarapa strike back by making 307 in their second innings. Other paltry tallies by Wairarapa were 38 against Hawke's Bay in 1905, 49 against Hutt Valley in 1947 and 57 against Nelson in 1956.

As it happened, poor first-innings score and all, Wairarapa still managed to draw last weekend's match, with the weather gods coming to their rescue by washing out the second day's play.