Battling Bay savour victory at Riverbend

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

CRICKET by Ben O’Brien-Leaf

Jimmy Holden’s Poverty Bay crew proved yesterday — by seven wickets — that the honest giver never fails to receive.

The battling Bay savoured victory against Napier Old Boys-Marist (NOBM) in the fifth game of a hard-fought 30-over campaign at the Year 7B Riverbend cricket camp.

“Our game in the afternoon was our best performance so far,” Bay coach Holden said.

“We bowled tight line and length, and were much better in the field, cutting down singles.

“Kobe Simmons was the pick of their bowlers — the quickest we’ve faced — but I was proud of the way these boys faced him, not backing down or giving chances. They saw him off (none for 12 from three overs) and scored runs from the others.”

Bay match-captain Leo Starck lost the toss on the Petane Domain No.1 artificial wicket, but the Bay were excellent value with the ball. Their MVP (most valuable player), Manjot Singh, took 2-2 from two overs and held a catch off the bowling of fellow seamer Arlo Willis (1-7 from three).

NOBM reached 130-8. All-rounder Simmons hit eight fours in his 51 retired off 48 balls at No.7.

Starck opened the batting for Poverty Bay and produced a blinder of a captain’s knock, with four fours in his run-a-ball 22. First-drop Jonah Reynolds was superb in thumping a six and seven fours in his 44 off 61 balls. Jack Holden showed steel for 29 not out off 59 balls at No.4 and hit the winning runs with a great on-drive for two from the second ball of the 26th over.

Reynolds (40 runs), Weston-Arnold (three wickets) and left-arm pace bowler Caleb Taewa (3-10 from three overs against the strong Invitation team in Game 4 yesterday morning) all made the Riverbend Honours Board.

Taewa, who took 1-7 in two overs against NOBM, did the Bay great good in knocking over Invitation Team (IT) opener Kit Oliver (15), No.9 Kriv Kadakia (37) and Samuel Ennor (32, batting at No.6).

Oliver was the first IT batsman to fall, Kadakia — with seven boundaries in his 16-ball cameo, dangerously aggressive — and Ennor was out off the last ball of the first innings. Having won the toss, the Invitation Team had batted well to make 228-9 at Frimley Park.

Starck showed quiet determination to bat for an hour and make 23 from 49, the Bay’s only score of consequence, while Gaeyesha Mahabalage did a solid job as Poverty Bay captain in Game 4 on the occasion of his 11th birthday. The Bay showed grit against a good bowling attack and were 117-9 at the end of the 30th over.

Poverty Bay captain Jack Holden won the toss at Frimley Park No.4 this morning and opted to bowl against Western Bay of Plenty White in Round 6, the last game of the tournament.