His 109-ball knock at Harry Barker Reserve included 13 boundaries, one a pull shot to bring up his century.
It was the South African’s first ton on New Zealand soil.
Crampton said he felt fairly early that it might be his day when he received a half-volley on his legs and whipped it to the fence.
The No.3 batsman received some loose balls and put them away but also had to hold up an end while wickets fell around him.
Crampton said he was getting some starts this season and he was happy he went on to make a big score this time.
With a good total on the board, Pirates didn’t quite capitalise with the ball.
An opportunity slipped by when HSOB captain Scott Tallott skipped down the wicket against Crampton’s bowling and his mis-hit was spilled by the fielder running in. Tallott went on to make an unbeaten 50.
Pirates vice-captain Brad Reynolds said that if Tallott’s wicket had been taken, they might have been able to put pressure on a new batsman or two.
Reynolds was content with the batting performance and said Pirates were in control for much of the match. But he was disappointed they couldn’t get more competition points.
Tallott said the captains agreed to start the game early. Pirates won the toss and chose to bat first on a hard, dry deck.
The match was interrupted by the sprinkler system coming on at 11.30am, instead of 11.30pm, but no play was lost.
Tallott said Pirates began with a quick run rate, but his side pulled things back.
Leg-spinner Parminder Kulaar took 3-42 off 13 overs and opening bowler Marshall Norris took 3-36 off four. Kulaar also opened the batting for HSOB, scoring 28.
Pirates captain Dane Thompson took two wickets in his third over, finishing with 2-28 off eight, and he scored 25 with the bat.
After a series of disappointing batting performances, Bain Construction OBR got it right against Gisborne Boys’ High School.
Setting off in reply to Boys’ High’s 91, Carl Carmody (64) and Craig Christophers (53) had a 99-run opening stand as OBR surged to 252-3 in 37 overs.
Carmody’s 64 came off just 43 balls.
More fireworks were to come when Graham Hudson cracked 72 not out. Timoti Weir chimed in with 32.
OBR captain Jonathan Purcell said that after he won the toss and chose to field, his bowlers produced an awesome start.
Jimmy Holden (1-21 off nine) and Graham Hudson (2-20 off 10) restricted Boys’ High to 13 off the first 10 overs.
Josiah Turner (30) and Jacob Colbert (26) mounted a “decent fightback” for Boys’ High, Purcell said, before Hamish Evans cleaned up the tail, taking 4-18 off six overs.
“We had to get maximum points and got the job done,” Purcell said.
Boys’ High captain Paul Stewart rued getting out after fighting hard alongside Jack Faulkner in the early stages of their innings.
“OBR bowled well. Jimmy and Graham were swinging it . . . they were too good.”
Pirates 204-8 off 45 overs (Matt Crampton 107, Dane Thompson 25, Sam Patterson 20; Marshall Norris 3-36, Parminder Kulaar 3-42) drew with High School Old Boys 132-4 off 35 overs (Scott Tallott 50 not out, Kulaar 28; Thompson 2-28).
Gisborne Boys’ High School 91 off 30.4 overs (Josiah Turner 30, Jacob Colbert 26; Hamish Evans 4-18, Graham Hudson 2-20) lost to Old Boys Rugby 252-3 off 37 overs (Hudson 72 not out, Carl Carmody 64, Craig Christophers 53, Timoti Weir 32).
