High-stakes game for Horouta

Before the final: Horouta are likely to play High School Old Boys in the DJ Barry Cup final but they first need to take care of business against OBR tomorrow. OBR will strive to make life uncomfortable for Horouta batsmen such as David Situ, pictured batting this month against HSOB. Picture by Paul Rickard

CRICKET

HOROUTA will first push to make sure they qualify for Poverty Bay cricket's DJ Barry Cup final and then they may have a crack at being the top qualifier.

But they will need a compelling performance tomorrow to overtake High School Old Boys, who have a 13-point lead in the competition.

Horouta would need a very good day against Landmark Homes OBR tomorrow to reel that in.

OBR need an even better day if they are to make the final.

They need to push to win the game outright, which is unlikely, but not impossible.

OBR have a bowling attack capable of dismissing a team twice in one day, but Horouta are unlikely to capitulate when a spot in the final is theirs for the taking.

Horouta captain David Situ said his team would be “gunning” for the top spot, but he indicated they wouldn't risk all to get there.

“We'll have a strong side this week to give ourselves every chance of getting those 13 or 14 points,” he said.

It would almost certainly need to be 14 points, because they're behind HSOB on net run rate.

If Horouta pick up five competition points, OBR cannot make the final.

Situ said they would look to get that job done first.

OBR captain Matt Cook is well aware his side are up against it.

Time will be their enemy at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow, as they will have a maximum of 78 overs for scoring their runs and skittling their opposition twice.

OBR defaulted one of their games last weekend, but Cook was confident they would get a team on the park.

“We won't give up. We'll still give it everything,” he said.

“We want to finish the season strong.”

The top qualifier for the final will have an advantage in that the other team will have to beat them on the first innings to win the DJ Barry Cup.

The team qualifying second will have to bowl out the other side for less runs than they scored or overhaul their total.

Situ said that, should his team make the final, tomorrow's game should help the batsmen return to their groove.

They had an impressive performance two weeks ago against HSOB, but need to get back into rhythm after last weekend's bye.

Tomorrow's match between Horouta and OBR is scheduled to start at 1pm.