OBR opener Martin Worndl walks from the field to the applause of his teammates after his unbeaten century against Gisborne Boys' High First XI in Poverty Bay Premier Grade cricket's Doleman Cup at Harry Barker Reserve.
OBR opener Martin Worndl walks from the field to the applause of his teammates after his unbeaten century against Gisborne Boys' High First XI in Poverty Bay Premier Grade cricket's Doleman Cup at Harry Barker Reserve.
Three players were headline acts in Poverty Bay Premier Grade club cricket at the weekend.
Gupreet Singh took 5-13 off five overs, including a hat-trick, on debut for Bollywood HSOB in their 129-run Doleman Cup 40-overs competition win against Moshim’s Spice Horouta at Harry Barker Reserve.
Gisborne Boys’ HighFirst XI left-arm swing bowler Caleb Taewa took 6-45 off eight overs against Coastal Concrete OBR.
However, OBR left-hander Martin Worndl carried his bat brilliantly for 100, bringing up his maiden local ton with an on-drive for four to seal a 34-run win.
After five rounds, HSOB lead the competition on 14 points, GBHS have 10 and OBR and HSOB eight apiece.
“Who is he?” was the question on most lips after HSOB’s newest weapon Singh, who hails from Barnala village in the northern India state of Punjab, was unleashed.
Horouta Te Waka skipper Jagroop Singh won the toss, chose to bowl and in his typical bustling style, with new ball in hand, first conceded five wides and then trapped HSOB opener Akira Makiri leg before wicket.
Makiri’s opening partner Pushpinder (Ajay) Kumar set about steadying the ship with Alex Shanks (33), the pair putting on 58.
Kumar made 52 from 59 balls, then was caught and bowled by off-spinner Harmanpreet Gill (4-29-8).
Connor Starck, at No 7, continued his good form with 37 in 45 balls before falling to Billy Morse (2-48-7.4).
While HSOB batted positively, Gill got rid of three members of HSOB’s top order in Kumar, captain Taye McGuinness (15) and No 5 Nathaniel Fearnley (without scoring).
Te Waka bowled HSOB out for 212 in 38.4 overs.
Horouta got off to a 40-run start before Gupreet Singh, known as Juri, worked his magic.
With the first three balls of his fourth over, he went through classy left-hander Hansa Fernando (18), had the dangerous Gautam Sareen caught by Fearnley at mid-wicket and castled Gill to complete his hat-trick.
With inswing to the right-handed batsmen and a full length, he galvanised HSOB and the spin attack then came into their own.
Left-arm slow Riker Rolls, with great curve, bagged 3-31-6 and leg spinner Akira Makiri 2-7-2 to end Te Waka’s chase at 83 in 18 overs.
Gisborne Boys' High First XI bowler Caleb Taewa with the ball with which he claimed six wickets in Poverty Bay Premier Grade club cricket's Doleman Cup on Saturday.
The Matt Cook-led OBR’s 34-run win over the Steve Whitaker-coached GBHS was closer than the margin suggests.
Cook won the toss, chose to bat and his outfit put up 200-8, thanks mainly to the performance of Worndl.
The classy opener hit 13 boundaries in his 128-ball innings and got vital support from No 5 Harvey Reynolds (18) in a 78-run partnership ended by Taewa.
Taewa earlier got the wickets of his former GBHS teammates Zyden Worsnop (14) and Bekko Page (4). Bowling with subtlety and accuracy, with a good slower ball, he had No 7 Tom Garrett (14) caught by captain Charlie Whitfield, then clean-bowled Daniel Stewart the next ball and completed his six-for with the scalp of Franco Ludwing (0 off 7 balls), caught by wicketkeeper Alex Langford.
GBHS spearhead Johnathon Gray was the other wicket-taker, snaring 1-31-8, including two maidens, then opening the batting.
With GBHS needing 201 for victory, opener Gayesha Mahabalage gave his team a strong foundation with nine fours in his excellent 83-ball knock of 54.
Patrick McInnes (25 including four boundaries) survived a hat-trick ball from OBR veteran Jimmy Holden (3-23-7), who dismissed Gray (12) and Joel Kirkpatrick the next ball.
When medium-pacer Franco Ludwig (2-16-4) had McInnes caught by Reynolds two balls into the 16th over, Boys’ High were still in the hunt at 75-3.
But OBR kept the pressure on and wickets fell – spinner Stewart (2-22-8) delivering a decisive blow when he bowled Mahabalage to have the students 116-5.
Cook bowled No 10 Brandon Fearnley (6) with the first ball of the 38th over to end it.
The first trophy of the season goes on the line on Thursday when HSOB and OBR clash at 5.30pm Walker Shield T15 final on the rep wicket.
SCOREBOARD
Poverty Bay Premier Grade, Doleman Cup (40 overs), Round 5
Coastal Concrete Old Boys’ Rugby 200-8 (Martin Worndl 100 not out, Harvey Reynolds 18; Caleb Taewa 6wkts for 45 runs off 8 overs) def Gisborne Boys’ High School First XI 166 all out in 37.1 overs (Gayesha Mahabalage 54, Patrick McInnes 25; Jimmy Holden 3-23-7, Franco Ludwig 2-16-4, Daniel Stewart 2-22-8) by 34 runs.
Bollywood High School Old Boys 212 all-out in 38.4 overs (Pushpinder Kumar 52, Connor Starck 37, Alex Shanks 33; - Harmanpreet Singh 4-29-8, Gurishwar Singh 2-26-8, Billy Morse 2-48-7.4) def Moshim’s Spice Horouta Te Waka 83 all out in 18 overs (Hansa Fernando 18, Yash Taak 10, Billy Morse 10; Gurwinder Singh 5-13-5, Riker Rolls 3-31-6, Keanu Makiri 2-7-2) by 129 runs.
Poverty Bay Senior B Grade, T20 competition, Round 5 Pioneer Ngatapa Green Caps 127-2 in 15.1 overs (Tim Fox 58, EJ Nepe 30; Finnbar Whitfield 2-23-3) def Gisborne Boys’ High Second XI 123-4 (Matthew Langford 45, Bihandu Withanage 29; Zach Kirkpatrick 1-7-2, Mark Kennedy 1-13-3, Archie Gillies 1-17-4) by 8wkts.
Bollywood HSOB Presidents 160-5 (Jak Rowe 50, Josh Adams 24, Jonny Hardie 20, Glen Udall 20no) def Moshim’s Spice Horouta Te Waka Presidents 143-7 (Tony Bucheler 39, George Judd 31no; Josh Adams 3-17, Ashley McMillan 2-35) by 17 runs.
