Bollywood Stars avenge cup loss

ALL-ROUND EFFORT: OBR all-rounder Timoti Weir scored 26 valuable runs and then took 4-20 but it was not enough to prevent the Stars from ending OBR’s unbeaten run this season and regaining the Challenge Trophy. Picture by Liam Clayton

BOLLYWOOD Stars avenged their Doleman Cup loss, ended OBR’s unbeaten run in all competitions this season and regained the Challenge Trophy with a five-wicket win in DJ Barry Cup cricket at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.

Stars captain Sam Singh produced another batting masterclass with 74 runs from 50 balls. He hit 10 fours and two sixes as his side chased down Bain Construction OBR’s 151 from their 40 overs.

However, Singh had to share the man-of-the-match honours with wicketkeeper/right-arm medium-pace bowler and vice-captain Ajay Kumar, who took six wickets for 24 runs from 5.5 overs.

Stars opener Gagan Dhingra also made a valuable contribution with 43 not out from 76 deliveries. Dhingra, who shared a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 120, hit six fours.

Dhingra normally opens the batting but after a run of low scores he asked to bat down the order, and it paid off.

“Gagan batted really well,” Singh said.

“He’s a batsman who likes to get after the bowlers and score runs all around the ground, but he showed a lot of patience and his shot selection was excellent.”

Singh won the toss and sent OBR in to bat. Singh struck the first blow with his first delivery when he had Craig Christophers caught by Gary Singh.

The Singh combination then sent Kieran Venema back to the pavilion with only five runs on the board.

Ian Loffler and Timoti Weir rebuilt the innings with a 59-run stand before Weir was caught behind by Kumar off the bowling of Jagroop Singh for 26.

Loffler and Jonathan Purcell continued the revival with a 72-run stand to take OBR to 136 before Loffler was caught by Harry Singh off Kumar.

Loffler’s 73 runs came off 100 balls and included eight fours. Purcell (30 from 36) followed two runs later.

The OBR lower order failed to fire, with the last five batsmen adding only 13 runs.

“We got off to a bad start, but around the 20-over mark we were looking at 180 or so,” Loffler said.

“To be all out for 151 was disappointing.”

OBR opening bowlers Jimmy Holden and Timoti Weir, and Patrick Mathers gave their side a tremendous start when they had the first four batsmen back in the pavilion with only 25 runs on the board.

That was the signal for Sam Singh and Dhingra to get to work. They proceeded to take the game away from OBR.

“You’re always disappointed when you lose but I sometimes think you learn more from a loss than you do from a win,” Loffler said.

While happy with the win, Sam Singh said his top order needed to improve.

“We have been giving some of the lower-order guys the opportunity to bat higher up to give them some experience playing the new ball, but it’s not working as well as we would like.

“But the only way they’ll get experience and confidence is to play there.”

Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates kept the pressure on the Stars with a 34-run victory over Horouta in a game dominated by the bowlers.

Sent in to bat, Pirates posted 145-9, with Dane Thompson top-scoring on 30.

Pirates openers James Torrie and David Situ started well, putting on 25 runs before Torrie was caught by Chad Collins off Vaughan Thompson for 16.

Olly Tilley was then trapped leg before wicket for eight with the score at 40, and when Situ was caught by wicketkeeper Vishal Amin off the bowling of skipper Blake Taylor for 12, Pirates were 40-3.

Dane Thompson and Richie Needham put on 48 runs before Needham was out lbw to Collins for 12, and from then on wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

However, tail-ender Ryan Nepe scored a valuable 16 off 11 deliveries.

Clarence Campbell was the chief wicket-taker, with 3-48. Thompson and Collins each picked up two wickets.

Horouta were soon in trouble, losing three wickets for 19 runs. Needham claimed two, with Aku Smith taking the catches, and Dane Thompson took the other wicket.

Taylor and Amin then shared a superb 62-run partnership before Amin became Needham’s third victim, out for 21.

Taylor went on to score 42 before he was caught by Daniel Torrie off Luke Hayes, and that was the beginning of the end for Horouta’s chase.

Needham was the chief destroyer with 5-28.

Gisborne Boys’ High School (2) opened their winning account with a nine-wicket demolition of Campion College.

After dismissing Campion for 114, with Daniel Stewart and Clay Barry each taking three wickets, Boys’ High replied with 115-1, thanks to a magnificent opening partnership of 108 from Angus Orsler and Harry Holdsworth.

Orsler, who hit 57 off 57 balls, including nine fours, was run out, leaving Holdsworth to finish unbeaten on 35 off 55 balls.

Gisborne Boys’ High School lost by default to Tamarind High School Old Boys.

Stars 155-5 (S Singh 74, G Dhingra 43; T Weir 4-20) def OBR 151 (I Loffler 73, J Purcell 30, T Weir 26; A Kumar 6-24) by five wickets.

Pirates 145-9 (D Thompson 30; C Campbell 3-48, V Thompson 2-31, C Collins 2-33) def Horouta 111 (B Taylor 42, V Amin 21; R Needham 5-28) by 34 runs.

GBHS (2) 115-1 (A Orsler 57, H Holdsworth 35 not out ) def Campion College 114 (P McHugh 27, M Naden 22; D Stewart 3-13, C Barry 3-22, W Hansen 2-21) by nine wkts.

HSOB beat GBHS (1) by default.