Kerr and Rowe to the rescue for Poverty Bay

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CRICKET

AN impressive 93 from Bruce Kerr propelled Poverty Bay to a comfortable and unexpected win against Hamilton B in provincial cricket yesterday.

The No.3 scored at quicker than a run a ball for Bollywood Stars Poverty Bay in pursuit of Hamilton’s 195 in their 50-over match, which Poverty Bay won by five wickets.

“He was smashing it all over the place,” captain Nic Hendrie said after his team chased down the target with more than 12 overs to spare in the Basil McBurney Trophy game.

Poverty Bay were anything but comfortable, however, in the early part of their innings.

They were four for three, losing Hendrie, Cameron Ingram and Thomas Hayes without scoring.

Hendrie said Kerr and Scott Tallott (20) rebuilt the innings, then Jake Rowe carried on the momentum, scoring an unbeaten 55.

Hendrie said the pitch was most difficult to bat on against the new ball.

After the early clatter of wickets, Kerr and Tallott took their time to get their side back into the game, Hendrie said.

Hamilton gave away too many easy wickets when they batted, he said.

His expectations had been low heading into the fixture at Galloway Park in Hamilton but the bowlers performed well and the long batting line-up got the job done.

On his return to the side after breaking his leg playing football last year, Andrew Gibbs bowled his 10 overs on the trot for 3-51.

Hendrie said Hamilton B looked keen to get after Paul Stewart at the other end, but couldn’t.

Stewart finished with 2-34 off eight overs and also ran out Hamilton’s top-scorer, Paddy Carsons, for 84.

Hamilton B 195 off 41.3 overs (Paddy Carsons 84, Ben Morris-Brown 26, Elliot Santner 25; Andrew Gibbs 3-51, Paul Stewart 2-34) lost to Poverty Bay 199-5 off 37.3 overs (Bruce Kerr 93, Jake Rowe 55 not out, Scott Tallott 20, Matt Crampton 19 not out; Cooper Rowell 2-20).