HSOB OUT TO BREAK OBR RUN

GUNNING FOR A TITLE: Paul Stewart is one of the new players for OBR wanting to help them defend their Doleman Cup cricket title, which they have won in the past four seasons. OBR will play High School Old Boys in tomorrow's final. Picture by Liam Clayton

THE OBR cricket club's experienced campaigners know what it takes to win Doleman Cup finals.

Players such as Jimmy Holden, Matt Cook and captain Jonathan Purcell have been there several times before.

Others, such as Paul Stewart and Travis Mitchell, are new to the side.

'We've got not as much experience as usual going into a final,' Purcell said.

'The younger players will get to experience that and we'll need the whole team to step up and contribute.'

Landmark Homes OBR will play Bollywood Stars High School Old Boys in Poverty Bay cricket's 40-over competition final at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow from 1pm.

OBR are gunning for their fifth Doleman Cup title in a row.

HSOB captain Carl Shaw said his team were excited about the challenge ahead of them.

'To be the best you have to beat the best and we are very keen on a well-fought final,' he said.

'We are hoping for a good all-round team performance. We have had one or two individuals step up each game but haven't put all the pieces together yet, which we'll need to do to win a final.'

The two teams clashed in last year's final, which OBR won comfortably.

This year, HSOB were the top qualifiers after losing just one game ahead of the playoffs.

OBR were third and had to get past second-placed Horouta last weekend to put themselves in the running to defend their title.

OBR's 67-run victory over Horouta last week was a solid performance built on a more assured batting display, with No.5 Nick Greeks contributing a vital 37 runs.

'They are starting to play like the OBR of old,' Shaw said.

The HSOB batting line-up looks strong and Northern Districts A player Thorn Parkes will be a key wicket.

The 19-year-old left-hander scored 77 for HSOB two weeks ago by keeping the scoreboard ticking over with ones and twos and dispatching any loose deliveries to the boundary.

Both sides have bowlers capable of causing problems, although OBR have the more threatening and reliable attack.

Purcell said he backed his team to do a good job of restricting opposition batsmen.

OBR have been light on runs this season but are starting to look more convincing, just in time for the final.

'We're starting to pull things together,' Purcell said.

'A big chunk of that is our batting. If we score some decent runs, then we're in the game.'