On This Day: GC Pretorius’ Big Day

ON THIS DAY: Throwing back to 2015/16 today, when leg-spinner GC Pretorius put together one of the great single-handed Hawke Cup performances.

Playing for Hawke's Bay Cricket Association against North Otago Cricket, Pretorius took 6/39 & 2/15 alongside scoring a second innings 59 to lead Hawke's Bay to a remarkable win in Oamaru.

North Otago came into the game off the back of winning the Cup in Westport in a convincing outright victory. Francois Mostert was in sublime form, taking 13 wickets in that match.

It carried through into the first innings, with Mostert taking four wickets as Hawke's Bay were skittled for 122. In reply North Otago were 72-3 before Pretorius came to the fore, North Otago suddenly finding themselves 88-7.

At 120-9 the first innings was on a knife edge, but North Otago scraped over the line thanks to the late Andrew Grubb. Pretorius had taken six of the last seven wickets to fall, the other being a run out, and while not claiming first innings honours ensured there was plenty of time left in match for an outright result.

Hawke's Bay started strong in their second dig before a middle order collapse left them 182-9. Pretorius made 59 off 84 balls before being last out, dragging his side to 248.

North Otago were spent in their second innings, all out for 93. Pretorius took 2-15 off 11 overs, combining with Ajaz Patel (3-21) and Angus Schaw (4-20) to get the job done.

Photo: Hawke's Bay Today / Duncan Brown