Fielding key to success at T20 tourney

WELCOME BACK Pirates allrounder Dane Thompson hits through the onside in a club cricket game. Thompson has made an immediate impact since returning from university, taking three wickets in his first game last weekend and hitting 55 off 52 ball for a strike rate of 105.77 in Thursday night’s Walker Shield T20 game. He will be a key man for the Bay at theNorthen Districts T20 tournament in Taupo. Picture by Paul Rickard

POVERTY Bay selector Ian Loffler says the three-day twenty20 tournament staring in Taupo tomorrow will be a good challenge.

“It used to be 50 overs but now it’s all twenty20 games against all the Northern Districts associations,” said Loffler.

“We (coach Lance Cairns and selector Ryan Majstrovic) believe the shorter version of the game will suit us better.

“We’ve got a good mix of of players with batsmen who can go hard — like Scott Tallott and Thomas Hayes — and others who can feed them the strike.

“The key for us will be fielding. The pressure is on the fielders to make sure singles don’t become twos and twos don’t become threes. If we’re sharp in the field the pressure goes back on the batsmen to try to keep the run rate ticking over.”

Loffler said the return of Craig Christophers, who missed the last two games — a loss to Hawke’s Bay in a 40-overs game and first innings points loss to Waikato Valley in a two-day match — Dane Thompson, who is back from university, and former Bay player Alex Goodin (Bay of Plenty) was a boost.

“All three are good all-rounders. Craig, in particular, will bring his experience, which will help Danny (Gibbs, Bay captain).”

The Bay will not have main strike bowler Jak Rowe due to work commitments so Richard Mills, Jimmy Holden and Timoti Weir will lead the attack, with Gibbs and Jonathan Purcell supplying the spin options.

Purcell goes into the match on the back of consistent performances, including taking sevens wickets for 15 runs off five overs against Horouta last week. However the next three days will be a step up — where any bad balls are likely to be dispatched to the boundary.

“It is going to be a challenge,” said Loffler, “but one the boys are looking forward to, and I believe we are up to it.”