Big guns in showdown

Top of the table clash: HSOB's Carl Shaw (pictured) and his team face OBR tomorrow and are excited about the challenge.Picture by Paul Rickard

It's a top-of-the-table showdown in premier-grade cricket tomorrow as High School Old Boys and OBR clash.

With their first-round match cancelled, tomorrow's game will be the first time Bollywood Stars HSOB and Coastal Concrete OBR have met in 50-over cricket this season.

In the other game, Galaxy World Gisborne Boys' High School and Siteworx Civil Horouta will look to avoid the wooden spoon.

HSOB come into tomorrow's game as competition leaders with a perfect three-win record, while OBR have one blemish — a loss to Horouta.

OBR captain Nick Greeks said his side would focus on doing the little things right.

“HSOB are a quality team and we need to create pressure with good bowling and fielding.”

He hoped OBR would take their chances, as HSOB did not offer many opportunities to force a breakthrough.

They would look to bat the whole innings by building partnerships, he said.

HSOB captain Carl Shaw said it was a big game, and they were excited about it.

“It's always a challenge and always something we look forward to.

“They have always been a good bowling unit, and they execute their plans really well.

“But they also have a few batsmen that can take the game away from you at any point, as well as solid players who value their wicket.”

The match between GBHS and Horouta would come down to who could make better use of their strengths, both captains said.

Boys' High skipper Nathan Trowell said they expected a “big game”.

“All the teams in the first division give you a tough game.”

Horouta's strength lay in their batting, but they could also take the game away with the ball if GBHS were caught sleeping, he said.

“We will try to take some early wickets and put their batsman under pressure,” Trowell said.

“For batting, we need to apply ourselves and bat the 50 overs.”

Horouta captain David Situ said he expected a tough game against a dangerous team.

“GBHS are a well-rounded team so it's just about bowling and batting to our strengths.”