Loffler the standout performer in Bay loss

TOP-SCORER: Ian Loffler, here batting for club side OBR, was called into the Poverty Bay team the day before the game against Bay of Plenty and was the local side’s standout performer at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday. The former Poverty Bay coach top-scored for the Bay with 61 runs, but it was not enough to prevent a 130-run loss to one of the powerhouse teams of Northern Districts cricket. Picture by Paul Rickard

LATE replacement Ian Loffler scored 61 runs for the standout performance of a depleted Poverty Bay side who lost to Bay of Plenty by 130 runs yesterday.

The visitors, traditionally among the powerhouse teams of Northern Districts cricket, made 299-5 in their 50 overs on a “flat deck’’ at Harry Barker Reserve, then dismissed the home side for 169.

Tim Clarke led the way with 110 for Bay of Plenty, scored in 108 minutes with seven boundaries.

Tom MacRury made 58 and Peter Drysdale was 56 not out.

The Poverty Bay innings started disastrously with the side 0-1, 4-2, 4-3, 16-4 and 37-5 before Loffler, along with Dane Thompson (15), put on 37 for the sixth wicket.

Loffler, an OBR stalwart and former Bay coach, and playing his first rep game for three years, was called into the side only on Saturday.

“He showed the rest of us that it was a flat deck,” Poverty Bay captain Mitch Turner said.

“He picked the right ball to hit.”

Coach David McDonald said Loffler was outstanding.

“But no one was able to stay with him.

“He only got out when he started hitting out — which is not his natural game — when we were eight or nine wickets down.”

McDonald said the nature of Josh Bates’s dismissal was disappointing.

The Bay’s leading batsman, as the non-striker, was run out from a deflection off the bowler.

There was no leading destroyer in the Bay of Plenty attack . . . four bowlers took two wickets each.

Turner said he was happy to keep the strong Bay Of Plenty batting line-up under 300.

“I thought originally that they might have scored more,” he said.

“It was good to keep them under 300.”

For Poverty Bay, Jak Rowe took 2-51 and Jonathan Purcell, 2-54.

Turner said Purcell’s change of pace was effective.

He was not disheartened by his side’s performance.

Regular players Tom Hayes, Alex Gooding, Robbie Tallott and Thorn Parkes were all unavailable for the fixture.

“We were not at full strength; there were a lot of fill-in players in the side.

“Those fill-in players did well.”

Bay of Plenty 299-5 (T Clarke 110, T MacRury 58, P Drysdale 56no, Stephen Crossan 29no; J Rowe 2-51, J Purcell 2-54).

Poverty Bay 169 (I Loffler 61).

Club cricket report in tomorrow’s Herald.