It's an OBR v Pirates cricket final

MAN OF THE MATCH: Pirates all-rounder Dane Thompson, watched by umpire Tony Lee, was in superb form with bat and ball as the Buccaneers booked their place in the Doleman Cup final. Picture by Liam Clayton

DANE Thompson lived up to his pre-match billing as the best all-rounder in the district with a man-of-the-match performance for Pirates in Saturday’s Doleman Cup semifinals at Harry Barker Reserve.

“Dane got us off to a great start, conceding only 13 runs in his eight overs and he picked up a wicket before scoring an unbeaten 70,” said Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates skipper Brad Reynolds, whose side will play Bain Construction in the final.

Reynolds wasn’t far behind Thompson, who was acclaimed the best all rounder in the district by Bollywood Stars HSOB captain Scott Tallott, Pirates opposition.

Reynolds grabbed four wickets for 18 runs off 4.5 overs as HSOB were dismissed for 118 in 36.2 overs. Reynolds also shared a third-wicket match-winning partnership of 70 with Thompson.

Pirates lost Peter Stewart and Scott Hollinshead with 39 runs on the board. But chasing a modest total all that was required was sensible batting, which Thompson and Reynolds supplied.

Thompson was the main aggressor cracking 10 fours and one six in his 56-ball innings. Reynolds chipped in with 18 before he was caught and bowled by David Salmon, 10 runs short of their target.

Reynolds said Thompson was a worthy man of the match but was full of praise for his bowlers and “the best Pirates fielding I’ve seen for a long time”.

“All our bowlers bowled good line and length and the fielding was superb.”

Tayla Hollis and Richie Needham each picked up two wickets, Hollis going for only seven runs from her five overs.

Ryan Nepe was also economical giving up 15 runs off five overs for one wicket.

“We’re all looking forward to playing OBR on Saturday,” Reynolds said.

“It’s going to be tough but we beat them in the Walker Shield T20 game, their first defeat of the season and we’ll take a bit of confidence from that.

The vastly experienced OBR, who finished first in the 40-overs round-robin competition beat fourth-placed Coastal Ultrasound Horouta

Batting first, Horouta posted 140, led by Edwin Sandys, 52 off 42 balls and Keegan Martin 31/32.

Horouta loses first wicketHorouta lost their first wicket at 16 when Greg Taylor was the first of Timoti Weir’s three victims, out for eight.

Jimmy Holden then claimed the big scalp of the in-form David Situ, trapped leg before wicket without scoring.

That was a huge blow for Horouta. Wickets continued to tumble against the tight and accurate bowling of Weir, Holden and Cook as Horouta slumped to 72-6, before a seventh-wicket stand of 65 from Sandys and Amit Vyas 19 revived the innings.

Craig Christophers, who finished with 3-20 and later starred with the bat, then made the breakthrough he bowled Sandys, who hit 11 boundaries.

“Cookie getting Prince Malhotra, who scored a few runs last week, was a big wicket,” said Holden

Horouta’s cause was not helped by being dismissed in 26.4 overs . . . adding fuel to captain Blake Taylor’s pre-match “to have any chance of beating OBR we have to bat 40 overs”.

Horouta need quick wickets and Clarence Campbell answered the call when he bowled Kieran Venema first ball.

Ian Loffler (7) and Hamish Evans then added 39 runs when Loffler was caught by Greg Taylor off Blake Taylor.

When Evans (8) was caught by Situ off Blake Taylor — and with the score at 50 Horouta had a sniff of an upset.

Christophers and Weir had other ideas as they set about ending Horouta’s hopes.

Christophers, having a tremendous season with bat and ball, and the hard-hitting Weir took the game away from Horouta with a 71-run stand.

Weir, who hit six fours in his 51-ball knock departed lbw Mel Knight.

Christophers carried his bat with 59 off 66 deliveries, including eight fours and one six.

Pirates 122-3 ( D Thompson 70 not out) def HSOB 118 (G Udall 22, M Norris 20; B Reynolds 4-18, T Hollis 2-7, R Needham 2-29) by seven wickets.

OBR 144-6 (C Christophers 59no, T Weir 35) def Horouta 140 (E Sandys 52, K Martin 31; C Christophers 3-20, T Weir 3-32, M Cook 2-17) by four wickets.