Despite his crew having won three games in a row, Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps captain Mike Gibson and the heroes of 2019 remain on task.
“We made it tough on ourselves last week but want to keep improving our skills, regardless of the opposition,” said Gibson.
Half-centuries from the skipper at No.6 and opener Grant Walsh were crucial in the Caps' win last weekend against HSOB.
Horouta lost to Campion with five runs needed and four balls remaining (Kayley Knight was run out by Matt Naden) but captain Heyan Ranasinghe and his outfit have quickly moved on.
Ranasinghe says Horouta will be without Kayley and her mother Mel, and will be keen to get all-rounder Etienne Botes back for this game.
Campion player-coach Mark Naden and his team showed true grit against Horouta but tomorrow face a side in much better form.
Rawhiti Legal OBR have won five games in a row since their two-wicket loss to Ngatapa on November 9.
OBR's big three with the bat — openers Craig Christophers and Thom Berry and first-drop Ian Loffler — and pace bowling attack spearhead Lloyd van Zyl are the leading lights in a happy team playing good cricket.
“An important wicket for us to take is that of Mark Naden (who made 59 against OBR in their round 5 clash won by OBR by 75 runs),” said Christophers.
“He's one of the best batsmen in the competition.”
However, Christophers pointed out his side had plenty of players to watch out for, including left-hand batsman Deevon Gray and wily seamer Amit Vyas.
“Both are smart players with bat and ball.”
For Campion, old boy Daniel Torrie, who made a vital 47 against Horouta, is a quality cricketer who can read the game.
There's no “I” in team but Bollywood High School Old Boys' opener Glen Udall is clearly the best batsman in senior B cricket — certainly from a technical perspective.
The margin for error against him is small so if GBHS's bowlers over-pitch, drop the ball short, offer width outside off stump or bowl too straight, Udall will punish them, as will their next most experienced batsmen, Ollie Needham.
The students cannot rely solely on the likes of Cohen Loffler, Max Briant and Nathan Trowell to match HSOB's output.
They will need to set the tone through a hard-running, energetic approach in all three facets — with bat, ball and in the field.
“HSOB is an important game for us,” said GBHS captain Daniel Stewart.
“It'll be a good test for our bowlers because Glen Udall has been in top form and can change the whole game.”
HSOB's line-up last weekend included Finn Aitcheson, who, at Campion and at age group level for Poverty Bay, formed a memorable opening partnership with Steve Mahy.
Their solidity and appearance of being unruffled no matter how many times the ball beat the bat, or shaved the stumps, was amazing.
GBHS bowlers must be consistent and bowl in the channel outside off stump to put pressure on Udall and Needham, let alone Aitcheson.
