Mates off field, rivals on it

Baxter Mackay (pictured) and Ajay Kumar (see the next picture in this gallery) could play key roles for Pirates and High School Old Boys respectively in Doleman Cup semifinal action at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Pirates skipper Dane Thompson and High School Old Boys co-captain Scott Tallott are good mates off the field.

But their friendship will be put on hold tomorrow when they they clash in a 40-over Doleman Cup elimination semifinal to decide who will meet defending champions OBR in next week’s final.

“We’ve been mates since we were 11, when we went to Gisborne Intermediate, and have played in the same age-group rep teams,” Tallott said.

“We’ve tried to keep it civil, but over the years there have been occasions where, once we cross the white rope, it’s all on.

“He bowled a bouncer to me a few years back and hit me on the schnoz (nose). He’s never let me forget it . . . something along the lines of being too quick for me.

“But whatever happens on the field stays there and we’ll be mates afterwards.”

Both skippers have key roles to play tomorrow.

Although Tallott has yet to perform to his potential, he tops the batting average with 46.75 after five games.

And in last week’s game against OBR, he scored 32 off 42 deliveries.

“We’ve got Carl Shaw (opening bat and opening bowler) and Marshall Norris (medium-pace bowler) available after they missed last week’s loss to OBR,” Tallott said.

“Jak Rowe (co-captain) is also back bowling after being restricted by a side injury . . . that’s good news for us.

“And with Inder Singh and Carl, we’ve got three genuine quickies.

“Inder is probably the fastest bowler in the district; he really hits the pitch hard.

“Parminder Kulaar (left-arm leg-spinner) is also hard to get away. He gives the ball so much air it comes down with snow on it.”

HSOB are favourites, having beaten Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates comprehensively twice in round-robin games, and Thompson has no illusions about the challenge ahead.

“They have a formidable batting line-up, and a lethal and varied bowling attack — Rowe, Shaw, Singh, David Salmon, Norris, Ajay Kumar, Kulaar and Tallott,” Thompson said.

In the last match between the teams, on November 17, Tallott’s brother Robbie was the man who put Pirates to the sword.

Robbie scored 85 not out off 72 balls, and hit 11 fours.

Shaw chipped in with 27, while wicketkeeper and first drop Bruce Kerr and Shaw’s opening partner, Salmon, contributed 24 and 21 respectively as HSOB posted 220 from 39.4 overs.

Kulaar then ripped through the Pirates batting, finishing with six wickets for 18 runs off 6.2 overs, as Pirates were dismissed for 119.

Thompson, fifth in the batting averages, top-scored for Pirates that day with 38 off 41 balls.

He will need support tomorrow from Matt Crampton, Baxter Mackay, Brad Reynolds and Needham brothers Tom and Richie.

Crampton, who tops the bowling leaderboard with 14 wickets from four games, cracked 55 runs off 76 balls, hitting five fours in the process.

Mackay, second to Tallott in the batting table, scored 48 off 60 balls, while Reynolds hit 27 off 32.

If they and the Needham boys can get among the runs, it would give Crampton, Thompson, Sam Patterson and Tayla Hollis the chance to bowl their team through to the final.

“HSOB are definitely favourites, but if any team in the competition can cause an uset, it’s us,” Thompson said.

“Last week was their first loss and they only lost top spot on the closest of net run rates (0.546 to OBR’s 0.556).

“They bat down the whole team and have a decent bowling attack, which is why they were in top spot for all but one game. But if there’s one team in the competition who can cause an upset, it’s us.

“We batted first last week against Boys’ High and the top order got good time in the middle and some runs, which is what we needed going into this game.

“Baxter Mackay, who is a good batsman but has been unlucky this season, hit 48 off 60 balls. Matty Crampton scored 55, Brad Reynolds scored 27 and I chipped in with 33.

“If we can post a competitive total then we’ve got to back our bowlers — Sam Patterson, me, the Needham boys, Crampton and Tayla Hollis — in the field.”