Boys’ High top standings again

AT FULL STRETCH: Gisborne Boys' High School batsman Max Briant scrambles to make his ground in the match against Horouta, as wicketkeeper David Situ stands ready to knock the bails off the wickets. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne Boys' High School are back on top of the standings in Doleman Cup cricket after a dominant performance against Horouta on Saturday.

Galaxy World GBHS batted first and scored 224 all out in 35.1 overs. They then demolished Horouta's batting line-up, dismissing them for 62 in 25.3 overs.

Boys' High opening batsman Graham Sharp was bowled out by Bruno Judd, one run short of his half-century. He had combined with No.3 batsman Nathan Trowell for a partnership of 63.

Trowell batted well for 35 runs off 51 balls, and the rest of the top-order batsmen were in good form.

Nicholas Hendrie retired after scoring 57 runs off 38. He hit five fours and a six.

Coach Mal Trowell said Hendrie had planned to retire as the team had a game plan of letting the tail get more experience in the middle together.

Hendrie was in great touch again on Saturday. He scored 41 of his runs — at almost two runs a ball — in a 61-run partnership with Max Briant.

But he didn't get much help from the tail. The last five Boys' High batsmen scored a total of 11 runs, and three of them were dismissed without scoring.

Horouta were unable to slow the steady flow of singles that kept the total ticking over.

Trowell said it was another awesome performance from Boys' High.

“It was a good team effort . . . they gave them nothing.”

He said that at drinks, with the total at 102-2 after 17 overs, he thought they could push on and post a massive total.

“We were hoping to be around the 180 mark at 30 overs and build from there.”

By the 30th over GBHS had nearly 200 runs, but they were unable to keep their wickets in hand and bat the full 40 overs.

In their innings, Horouta struggled to find any form and floundered to 62 all out. Only captain David Situ scored in double figures.

Horouta have the individual skill to be a competitive team this year, but their key players have struggled to find the form needed to lead the team to victory.

They are still looking for their first win this season, but can never be counted out because it would only take a standout performance from one of their stars to turn a game their way.

GBHS 224 (Nicholas Hendrie 57 retired, Graham Sharp 49, Nathan Trowell 35, Max Briant 26; Bruno Judd 3-28, Ashvin Illangeshwaran 2-17, Tushar Balat 2-27) defeated Horouta 62 (David Situ 16; Daniel Stewart 3-10, Josiah Turner 3-22).