Yesterday, the Sebastian Wilson-led Gisborne team won the toss, chose to bowl and produced a quality all-round performance at the Harry Barker Reserve.
Wilson took 2-36 off eight overs. His fellow seamer, Alex Shanks took 3-17 off 4.4 overs and later scored 21 not out from 17 balls, batting at No.3. Leg-spinner Dylan Foster took 1-31 off eight overs and scored 43 off 67 balls, opening with Wilson.
But off-spinner Marcus Bull was the hero of the Gisborne bowling effort. The diminutive off-spinner — along with Kavidu Vethanage — had provided injury cover for the first three games. In this game, Bull took 3-30 — all three bowled — off eight overs.
Left-arm speedster Lukas Fry took 1-17 off two and later hit the winning runs from No.7, scoring four not out. He produced the ball of the innings, from around the wicket, to castle dangerous opener Sanchit Chopra (who had hit two magnificent cover drives for four off Wilson) for 8.
Gisborne Boys' High's Cory Thomson held two catches, the second of which was a “screamer”. Committed fielding has been a feature of GBHS play.
Whangarei were all out for 161 in 39.4 overs.
Wilson (50 off 52 balls from No.1) and Foster then put up 115 in 19.3 overs, in a larger partnership than the Gisborne side's previous three team totals.
After Foster's departure, GBHS lost their next four wickets for 32 runs with a spirited showing by Whangarei captain Ryan Krige and his team. The impressive Chopra took 2-23.
Wilson's powerful drives, Foster's steadfast defence and punishing pull-shot and Shanks's “hit-the-ground-running” approach were key in the run chase.
“Gisborne Boys' High were outstanding today,” Whangarei Boys' High coach Mark Oldridge said.
“Their spinners were difficult to score against, their fieldsmen backed up the bowlers and that was a great opening partnership. They completely outplayed us.”
Wilson was a proud — and relieved — captain.
“It was a gutsy effort,” he said.
“Our goal today is to beat St Paul's.”
