Boys’ High seek improvement

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

They took three scalps against New Plymouth yesterday.

The young Gisborne Boys’ High School first 11 lost to a solid New Plymouth BHS crew by seven wickets while also making a strong impression on their coach, Kurt Leuthart.

“Gisborne Boys’ High left-hander Te-Reimana Gray, batting at No.4, played nicely all around the ground for his 40,” Leuthart said.

“Later on there was some lusty hitting from Travis O’Rourke (24, in at No.8) and Max Briant (eight runs, from No.7), both of whom hit sixes.

“They fielded with passion against some good players — our first-drop, Jacob Mitchell, hit 10 boundaries in his 50 not out against GBHS after hitting 11 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 87 against Hastings the day before.”

Such is the consistency and calibre of the opposition at the four-day tourney.

Gisborne captain Nathan Trowell won the toss and chose to bat. Openers Luke Fisher (10) and Cohen Loffler (11) put up 27 as a pair before Loffler was run out by Hrishi Bolar off the fifth ball of the 13th over.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Bolar took 3-21 off four overs and second-change seamer Hamish Coombe took 2-22 off six, but Braydon Baker and his outswinger were the talk of the town. Baker was superb on a Cornwall Park No.2 pitch that offered seam and bounce to the pace bowlers early on. He took three wickets for four runs in 7.1 overs, five of which were maidens.

Gray and Trowell, who came in at No.4, shared another 27-run partnership before the GBHS captain was out, leg before wicket, to Coombe with his score at nine.

Boys’ High were all out for 117 in 37.1 overs of a possible 50 and then — to head coach Malcolm Trowell’s chagrin, gutsy effort notwithstanding — bowled 16 wides in defence of their modest total.

Mitchell’s unbeaten half-century and opener Josh Gard’s 22 not out were the Liam Carr-led New Plymouth team’s innings of note.

Cohen Loffler jetted a return throw in to bowler Te-Reimana Gray, who ran out New Plymouth ’keeper Hugo Roy off the fourth ball of the sixth over with the score at 26.

Gray (1-33 off five overs) had Gard caught by 6ft 2in gloveman Sebastian Wilson; the 6ft 7in Briant had second-drop Shale Foy (12) caught by talented Year 9 student David Gray at second slip.

New Plymouth scored 121-7 in 17.5 overs for victory.

Trowell senior said: “Luke and Cohen were cautious against some tidy bowling, Te-Reimana struck the ball and later on so did Travis, but he ran out of support. Our bowling was a bit loose. Te-Reimana was also the pick of the bowlers.

“We’re hoping for a big improvement today with the bat.”