CRICKET to make your mouth water — that’s what the last round-robin games in the 40-over DJ Barry Cup competition have on offer at the Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow.
Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates play Gisborne Boys’ High School, Bain Construction Old Boys’ Rugby play Coastal Ultrasound Horouta and Bollywood Stars Gisborne High School Old Boys play Campion College.
HSOB took only 14 overs to beat Horouta by 10 wickets last Saturday, having bowled Horouta out for 90 in 25.1 overs. Carl Shaw (37 not out) and captain Scott Tallott (25no) were at the wicket when victory was achieved.
Shaw’s opening partner, club stalwart Glen Udall, had earlier retired hurt, but he is fighting fit for tomorrow.
“The HSOB brand is to improve on the field of play every week and enjoy each other’s company,” said Udall, who joined the club on leaving Boys’ High in 1987.
“Our team culture is close now to what it was in my early days — we had a Northern Districts opening batsman as our captain in the late Roger Broughton, plus characters like Dudley Meadows and Neil Mackie. We played a positive brand of cricket and enjoyed everything about the club.”
Tallott is clear that he wants a strong performance against a Campion team who had their moments last weekend.
Campion’s batting stocks have been raised by the addition of classy left-hander Richard Briant at No.4. His 44 off 48 balls included six boundaries.
Player-coach Mark Naden has set realistic, achievable goals for his team.
“We want to bowl six good deliveries in a row, score 10 runs each, field our hearts out and have fun,” he said.
“Our pace bowlers, Max Briant and Nathan Andrews, are doing well and I’m looking forward to seeing Year 9 player Liam Barbier — a genuine leg spinner — in action.”
Barbier beat the outside edge with his first ball last weekend and is the first of his type to bowl for Campion since Andre Wilson in 1994.
Barbier and Andrews — who took the only wicket for the College last week in knocking over dangerous wicketkeeper-batsman Scott Hollinshead for 38 — have promise.
With their batting depth, HSOB should post well over 200 in 40-over games. They certainly want to do that in Round 5. But for it to be a possibility, they must win the toss tomorrow.
Gisborne Boys’ High School wicketkeeper Matt McNeil remains out with an injury to his left ankle and Drew Scott will miss tomorrow’s game for family reasons. With Scott away, 17-year-old Robert Schwass — who rates the No.2 pitch highly — will lead the side.
“No.2 played very well last week,” Schwass said.
“We want the top order to bat time and make runs, and we also want to be upbeat in the field.”
Scott took 1-23 off 10 overs against OBR on Saturday. In his absence, Jack Faulkner and Paul Stewart will need to make strong contributions.
Last Saturday, three Boys’ High players made starts with the bat — Jacob Colbert top-scored with 36 — but none went on. Boys’ High have capable all-rounders. It is time for them to step up.
Schwass has had to take the gloves for McNeil, while improving left-arm orthodox spinner Adam Whibley needs to bowl well against a line-up that includes Richie Needham, Tom Needham and Dane Thompson.
Richie Needham works the ball around nicely, Tom Needham is a gritty player and Thompson can be explosive with bat or ball.
Brad Reynolds leads a very capable side and is a thoughtful skipper.
“We’re aware that Boys’ High can bat the 40 and they put a lot of runs — 179 — on the board against OBR,” Reynolds said.
“We’d like to see Tayla Hollis bowl well and take wickets and I’ve watched Paul (Stewart) grow up from Te Hapara to Boys’ High. He gains in pace and in confidence by the week.”
Horouta have worked hard all season and tomorrow will be no different against OBR.
“We want to step up with the bat, which means lasting 40 overs, valuing your wicket and showing some discipline,” Horouta club captain Greg Taylor said.
“We want to perform with the ball tomorrow like we did in the Doleman Cup semi before Christmas. Keegan Martin, Blake Taylor and Mel Knight were our best that day.”
Knight also took 3-21 off eight overs against Boys’ High three weeks ago and is always tidy. Horouta seamer Billy Morse took 4-27 off eight on that occasion.
Horouta have a fascinating mix in their batting line-up. Wicketkeeper David Situ is a watchful No.3, while left-hander Keegan Martin has a great eye and hits the ball as hard as anyone else around. He also bowls a “heavy” ball and can be hard to face. OBR’s Hamish Evans, a former Poverty Bay and Northern Districts under-19 representative, similarly hits the deck hard: club cricketers can’t easily scotch the bounce.
OBR have their own left-handed batsman on the rise in Josh Adams. His technique has improved hugely.
Kieran Venema and Ian Loffler are both unavailable, but OBR’s experience and variety with the ball should tell.
Captain Jonny Purcell is a talented leggie, while left-armer Timoti Weir and long-serving seamers Jimmy Holden and Matt Cook pose dangers. They and the likes of Craig Christophers all know what it takes to win at club level.