Adams knock powers Gisborne HSOB Pressies to T20 Reserve Grade title

The Bollywood HSOB Presidents side who won the Poverty Bay Reserve Grade T20 final at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday, are, back row (from left): Matt Jefferd, Jonny Hardie, Brad Reynolds, Jeff Chambers, Daniel Torrie, Ollie Needham, Anish Shivdikar and Brad Clark. Front, Ben Bristow, Josh Adams, Glen Udall (captain) and Jak Rowe.

Josh Adams has scored some memorable goals with his lethal left boot for Gisborne United football club on its “home” fortress of Harry Barker Reserve.

But he, his HSOB Presidents teammates and opponents Ngatapa will never forget the devastation he produced with the bat in Poverty Bay club cricket’s T20 Reserve Grade final at the same venue on Saturday.

What could have been a close game ended in an eight-wicket romp to HSOB over the defending champions by virtue of left-handed opening batsman Adams’ stunning innings of 72 in 28 balls.

Adams clubbed five sixes and eight boundaries at a strike rate of 257.14 as the Bollywood HSOB side reached the winning total of 128 in only 12 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Pioneer Ngatapa Green Caps batted first and the stylish play of captain Charles Morrison (36 in 35 balls) at the top of the order, first drop Brent Gallagher (30 from 32) and fourth man in Bruce Donald (38 from 33) saw them post a fair total of 127-8.

Morrison and Gallagher put on 53 in a partnership highlighted by flourishing drives from the former and meaty pull shots from the latter. Donald timed the ball well and played shots all around the wicket.

Brad Clark took two wickets for 18 runs off three overs, including a wicket maiden, as the fifth medium pacer used by HSOB.

Spearhead left-armer Jak Rowe was tidy in his 2-25 off four overs.

“Charles is technically very good. He was very aggressive and rattled us early by putting us under pressure,” HSOB skipper Glen Udall said. “Happily we stuck to our game plan, which was to bowl full and straight, and that paid dividends.”

In the run chase, Adams’ treatment of the bad ball was brutal. Four of the five sixes he hit and five of his eight fours were off high full tosses.

He lost opening partner Rowe (7) with the score at 96 in the eighth over - Anish Shivdikar taking a catch at cover from the bowling of George Whitehead (1-35-2).

Three runs later, off spinner Archie Gillies (1-23-3) ended the Adams blitz when he had him caught by Morrison at long on with the first ball of the ninth over.

By that time the horse had bolted.

Udall brought up the win with a sweep shot for four off in-swing bowler Whitehead.

Morrison said they just didn’t put enough runs on the board and were completely outplayed by a better team.

Clarence Campbell helped umpire a hard-hitting, entertaining encounter on HBR No 2 and was good value for both clubs.

Club cricket resumes on January 17 with the first round of the DJ Barry Cup Premier Grade competition and the opening round of the Hope Cup 30-overs competition for Reserve Grade teams.

SCOREBOARD

Poverty Bay Reserve Grade T20 final

Bollywood HSOB Presidents 128-2 off 12 overs (Josh Adams 72, Glen Udall 16 not out; Archie Gillies 1 wicket for 23 runs off 3 overs, George Whitehead 1-35-2) def Pioneer Ngatapa Green Caps 127-8 (Bruce Donald 38, Charles Morrison 36, Brent Gallagher 30; Brad Clark 2-18-3, Jak Rowe 2-25-4) by 8 wickets.