Doleman Cup final tomorrow

LEADING THE CHARGE: Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates skipper Brad Reynolds (this picture) and his Bain Construction OBR counterpart Jonathan Purcell (next picture) lead their teams into Doleman Cup battle at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow. The last time the sides met in a Doleman Cup final was 2015 when OBR rolled the Jolly Rogers for just 86, thanks to the combined bowling efforts of Jimmy Holden (3-26) and Timoti Weir (4-23). OBR replied with 90-3. Eight of that winning side are in tomorrow’s final. OBR also won their round-robin clash with Pirates at the start of the season. Pictures by Paul Rickard

OBR club captain and top-order batsman Ian Loffler has thrown down the challenge to the Pirates batsmen ahead of tomorrow’s Doleman Cup 40-overs final at Harry Barker Reserve.

“I’m biased but we have the best bowlers in Gisborne . . . there will be a lot of pressure on the Pirates batters to perform” said Loffler, whose statement is backed by statistics.

Bain Construction OBR have the top four bowlers on the leaderboard.

Matt Cook heads the list with 16 wickets from five games at an economy rate of 3.73 runs per over.

Skipper Jonathan Purcell, Craig Christophers and Timoti Weir follow.

Throw in experienced campaigner Jimmy Holden, who has the potential to upstage his attack teammates, and it is not hard to see why OBR went though the competition unbeaten.

Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates skipper Brad Reynolds agreed with Loffler’s claims.

“These guys are all experienced and good bowlers, which is one of the reasons they are unbeaten in the competition, said Reynolds, who will be without key all-rounder Dane Thompson)and Northern Spirit women’s representative Tayla Hollis (fifth on the bowling standings).

Confidence in the 11“But tomorrow’s match is not about four or five players and I have every confidence in the 11 we’ll be fielding to combat their attack.

“Losing Dane — who was man of the match in last week’s semifinal win against HSOB and Tayla — Pirates’ top bowler at fifth on the standings, is a huge blow. But we have Tom Needham, who missed the semifinal, back.

“I’m also reminded of the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the ABs lost Dan Carter and still won.”

Thompson scored an unbeaten 70, but fractured his elbow during the week, while Hollis is playing in the national women’s competition.

Loffler said in on-field captain Purcell, OBR had “a skipper with a good cricketing brain”.

“JP is an old-fashioned captain, who has the respect not only of our players but all the teams. He’s developed into a good all-rounder, getting some decent scores in the middle order.

“JP first played for us about 10 years ago when he was at Lytton and they didn’t have a team. JP and Kieran Venema, also in tomorrow’s line-up, played for our OBR Academy team in the B division.”

Loffler said his side intended to carry the form from last week’s win against Horouta into the final.

Still unbeaten“We’re unbeaten in this comp so we are pretty confident. It’s also great having Hamish Evans back playing cricket, and we’ll have Korban Harrison-Allen back for the final.

“Our boys have played plenty of finals over the years but it’s all about stepping up on the day,” said Loffler, whose team are going for their third consecutive Doleman Cup victory.

Pirates also have plenty of incentive, having lost to OBR in the 2015 final and through their strong connection to the Doleman family.

“Even our young players know t the Doleman family have been a huge part of the club for many years,” said club captain Wynsley Wrigley. The boys all know this is a big one for the club to win.

“Before Dane fractured his arm I had us as slight favourites, but the boot is on the other foot with Dane out.”