CRICKET
AN eight-wicket haul for Ajay Kumar put High School Old Boys in the box seat against Pirates in Poverty Bay club cricket.
The medium-pacer trundled in for 16.3 consecutive overs and had the ball shaping in nicely at Harry Barker Reserve’s No.1 wicket in Gisborne on Saturday.
Kumar bowled three batsmen, had two lbw, two stumped and one caught and bowled.
His previous best was six wickets.
“It was hot out there,” Kumar said.
“Bowling 17 overs in a row was a challenge.”
Kumar said Jagroop Singh bowled well at the other end, not giving away easy runs in the DJ Barry Cup fixture. Singh bowled 17 overs on the trot, getting one wicket, and there was a runout.
Kumar complemented his spree of wickets with a first-ball duck when he batted.
Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates mustered 166 in 41.3 overs. Bollywood Stars High School Old Boys reeled it in, posting 218 for four in 38.1 overs, thanks mostly to an unbeaten 129-run stand between Glen Udall (88) and Robbie Tallott (36). Bruce Kerr also hit 40 and Jak Rowe, 32.
Pirates won the toss, chose to bat and started positively.
Nearly all the batsmen got a start, with Matt Crampton hitting 44 and Baxter Mackay 41. After passing 100 with only two wickets down, Pirates lost their way somewhat.
Captain Dane Thompson said he was happy in some ways, as his side had shown improvement.
But they were a bit rusty after a long break and ran hot and cold through the day, he said.
High School Old Boys captain Scott Tallott said he was impressed with the way his bowlers kept things tight. Singh tied up an end and Kumar put the ball in good areas.
The wicket was flat and the outfield quick, so he was happy to keep Pirates down to 166.
Old Boys lost three wickets when the total was 89 but Udall and Robbie Tallott steadied the ship.
On the No.2 pitch, Gisborne Boys’ High School put up a good fight against Bain Construction Old Boys Rugby. Boys’ High needed to last only three more overs to deny OBR the win.
Bowling first after losing the toss, Boys’ High didn’t let OBR get away. They snared four wickets before drinks, but Ian Loffler stood firm for OBR with 67.
OBR were bowled out for 143 in 38 overs. Josiah Turner toiled for 14 overs for two for 49 and left-arm spinner Daniel Stewart took 3-23 from five overs.
OBR had Boys’ High in early trouble with the bat, with Graham Hudson taking three wickets. He finished with 3-17 off five.
Hamish Evans, who chipped in with a handy 20 not out with the bat, took 2-31 off 10.
For Boys’ High, Turner held the innings together, scoring 59. Even when he was dismissed, Boys’ High weren’t quite done, fighting until they were bowled out for 112.
Turner said the ball came on to the bat quite well and he would like to have carried on to a bigger score.
Boys’ High captain Paul Stewart said his side “hung in there for a good while”.
The tail gained confidence from facing a lot of balls and the bowlers had kept the team in the match.
OBR stand-in captain Ian Loffler said he was pleased to make runs when his side needed them.
Hudson’s three wickets put the opposing team on the back foot.
“Boys’ High bowled well and showed heart with the bat as well,” Loffler said
He was also happy to play alongside his son, Cohen Loffler. Cohen and Nathan Trowell were Year 10 students called into action as OBR were missing a few regulars.
Pirates 166 in 41.3 overs (Matt Crampton 44, Baxter Mackay 41, Sam Patterson 19; Ajay Kumar 8-61), lost to High School Old Boys 218-4 in 38.1 overs (Glen Udall 88 not out, Bruce Kerr 40, Robbie Tallott 36 not out, Jak Rowe 32; Dane Thompson 2-31).
Old Boys Rugby 143 in 39 overs (Ian Loffler 67, Hamish Evans 20no; Daniel Stewart 3-23, Josiah Turner 2-49) beat Gisborne Boys’ High School 112 in 38 overs (Turner 59; Graham Hudson 3-17, Evans 2-31).