GBHS and HSOB play off for Shield

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THIS weekend Gisborne Boys' High School and High School Old Boys will play off for premier cricket's Walker Shield.

After they both recorded two-from-two wins last Saturday, they have secured their spot in the T20 competition final, while Siteworx Civil Horouta and Coastal Concrete OBR have been relegated from contention. After saying the 20-over game's format suited their style after last weekend's success, Galaxy World GBHS captain Nathan Trowell believes they will have the winning recipe to topple the in-form Bollywood Stars HSOB outfit.

GBHS have struggled with their batting form throughout this season, but have the talent in their ranks to post some devastating totals to chase, with Cohen Loffler coming into form through this week in their Super 8 competition and Graham Sharp opening the batting.

In the back of everyone's mind will be Sharps back-to-back unbeaten centuries in the same competition last year.

However, it may not come down to game plans after the GBHS first XI played four games of 50-over cricket through the week as part of the Super 8 competition and will come into the game with tired bodies. Trowell said they were eager to be in another final and would be “up for the fight”.

“It's been a huge week for the lads this week, so Friday is a rest day and back to school which is great.

“I think this format of cricket is suited to our game play.”

HSOB have been dominant this season, but they cannot come ill-prepared for a hungry young squad in GBHS.

The HSOB batting line-up has been their strength this season, with depth and talent throughout the order.

With Scott Tallot and Baxter Mackay regularly setting a strong precedent as opening batsmen and Poverty Bay's best batsmen this season, by the numbers, in captain Carl Shaw batting down the order last weekend, the GBHS bowling outfit will have to be in top form if they want to emerge victoriously.

HSOB have struggled at times to make breakthroughs with the ball, having had to rely on setting required run rates that their opponents have struggled to keep up with. While they often find success early with the ball, they are yet to find a combination to take them through the middle overs with efficiency once their strike bowlers have bowled out their overs. Shaw said they need to be clinical with their approach if they want to take out the trophy.

“If we field well and build pressure on the batsmen I'm sure we will be able to restrict them well.

“Batsmen need to value their wicket more. 20 overs is still enough time to get in and build. No need to be reckless from the start.”

The final starts from 10.30am at Harry Barker, with the OBR and Horouta game for third and fourth not to be played.