Weather has been a big factor in the lead-up to the season. Extra work was needed to get five grass wickets at the Reserve in fair order with a view to the Northern Districts under-19 men’s tournament from December 11 to 15.
At least one of the three 30-over Senior B Grade games — Campion versus GBHS (2), OBR v HSOB Presidents and Ngatapa v Horouta — may be played on an artificial pitch on Saturday.
HSOB premiers lost the toss but got what they wanted: to bowl first.
The wickets were a fraction slow after rain during the week. With the ball not coming on to the bat and superb bowling from all four bowlers used by HSOB, the David McDonald-coached GBHS were all out for 50 in 17.4 overs.
Second drop David Gray (10) was the only one of their batsmen to reach double-figures. Bekko Page scored eight from No.5. They lost their last five wickets for seven runs, and their biggest partnership was one of 15 between Page’s co-captain Jarrod Ormiston (7) and Alex Shanks (4) up front.
Off-spinner Tom Spencer took 3-0 in 3.4 overs. He kept an excellent length. Left-arm swing merchant Keegan Jooste took 3-13 in five overs, one of which was a maiden. Nick Armour — on at second change for Scott Tallott (1-25 from five overs) — bowled at slow-medium pace with great accuracy, snaring 3-11 in four overs.
Spencer and Armour each had two batsmen stumped by Graham Sharp.
Clever field placements and sure hands from the catchers ensured that any GBHS chances given were taken.
“I thought we were excellent with our lengths, making their batsmen play at lots of deliveries,” Dave Castle said.
“Some excellent catching and quality from Graham behind the poles made it a great day with ball in hand.”
Boys’ High showed some fight in defence of an indefensible score.
GBHS spearhead Page took 1-13 in three overs, left-armer Johnathan Gray, bowling second change, took 2-14 in 3.3 overs and another swing bowler, Kieanu Makiri, got 1-8 off two overs. Makiri, Worsnop and David Gray all held great catches.
Page said: “I got a good nut, but at the moment we’re just not batting time. I bowled too short but Johny Gray bowled very well with his line and length, tying the HSOB batsmen up.”
Club cricket’s first century-maker of the season is an opener for Breakers Horouta Te Waka.
Harmanpreet Singh was out, bowled by OBR’s Dane Thompson, for 105 off 83 balls, including five sixes and seven fours .
Thompson’s value with the ball matched Singh’s with the bat.
He took 3-23 in eight overs, one of which was a maiden.
OBR overhauled Te Waka’s 189-9.They won by seven wickets in 30.3 overs but not before Horouta skipper David Situ’s faith in his top order was rewarded by Singh.
Situ won the toss and three solid stands followed: Singh and Ben Brick (9) put on 39, Singh and Gautam Sareen (11) then took the score to 80-2 and the Singh-Situ partnership was worth 78 before Situ fell for 21, caught by OBR captain Nick Greeks off workmanlike off-spinner Daniel Stewart (3-22 from eight overs).
Situ said Stewart turned the ball, while also achieving bounce.
Situ’s dismissal with the score at 158 was untimely, off the second to last ball of the 28th over, because Te Waka might well have been thinking of 230 to 240 — an extremely competitive total.
OBR’s left-handed opening pair of Sean Henry (18) and Te-Reimana Gray (72 not out) cobbled together 41, Thompson (19) and Gray later put on 52 for the third wicket and Gray’s partnership with fifth-man-in Richie Needham, unbeaten on 37, was worth 87 runs.
In this way, OBR reached 190 three balls into the 31st over.
Jagroop Singh took 2-25 from eight overs with two maidens.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Greeks bowled eight good overs for only 22 runs but went without a wicket.
