OBR, Pirates into T20 final

CRICKET BOOTY: Pirates won the Challenge Trophy when they beat HSOB in last night’s Walker Shield semifinal. Players and club captain celebrate with the trophy. Back row (from left) are Richie Needham, Daniel Torrie, Tayla Hollis and Brad Reynolds. Front: Club captain Wynsley Wrigley and Aku Smith. Picture supplied

OBR will play Pirates in the Walker Shield twenty20 final after contrasting wins in the semifinals at Harry Barker Reserve last night.

Bain Construction OBR cruised to a 77-run victory over Gisborne Boys’ High School (1) while Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates sneaked past Tamarind High School Old Boys with just four balls to spare.

Brad Reynolds was the star of the show with an unbeaten 55 including match-winning partnerships with Richie Needham and Mitchell Turner.

Chasing 115-6, Pirates lost Olly Tilley and Daniel Torrie with the score at 24 — both trapped leg before wicket by Brent Arman.

Reynolds and Needham resurrected the innings with a 71-run stand off 46 balls before Needham was brilliantly caught and bowled by Beau Minogue Harrison for 29.

It left Pirates needing 21 off 19 deliveries as fading light caused problems for batsmen and fielders alike.

Turner smashed a four from Minogue-Harrison’s final ball in the 17th over and Reynolds and Turner managed five runs off the 18th over.

The pair eased the tension when they scored seven off the 19th over, leaving them five runs to get in the final over.

Turner hit the first delivery for three runs and Reynolds finished the job the next ball in a game that finished at 8.15pm.

HSOB skipper Scott Tallott (35 off 40 balls), Glen Udall (23) and David Salmon (16) led the charge after Tallott won the toss and elected to bat first.

OBR scored 143-4 against GBHS 1, who could manage only 66 in reply.

Openers Craig Christophers and Kieran Venema gave their side a great start with a 37-run partnership.

Venema was caught by Drew Scott off Peter Kapene for 33 off 31 balls.

Christophers and Ian Loffler took the score to 91 when Christophers was run out for 38 (off 36).

Josh Adams followed shortly after, leaving Loffler (27 no) to steer OBR to a total that was always going to be hard for the students to chase down.

Arun Kurup (three wickets for eight runs) Jimmy Holden (2-6) and Timoti Weir (2-6) made sure OBR advanced to the final.

¦ Five teams are battling for four playoff spots in the DJ Barry Cup heading into the penultimate games at Harry Barry Reserve tomorrow.

Pirates top the table with 75 points, followed by the Stars on 68, Horouta 56, OBR 55 and HSOB 42.

Although HSOB are outside the top four they have, on paper, the easiest run home, with games against Campion College tomorrow and GBHS (2) the following week.

Two wins would give them 92 points and put pressure on the others — with Horouta the team most in danger of missing out.

Horouta play OBR tomorrow and finish the round-robin with a game against the Stars, who should book their place in the semifinals when they take on GBHS (1) tomorrow.

However, the Stars will want to avoid any slip-ups as they complete their programme against HSOB.

Horouta will be without skipper Blake Taylor but welcome back Mel Knight, who was on Northern Spirit representative duty last weekend.

OBR co-captain Loffler said there was “a bit of pressure” on his side to win their last two games to qualify.

“Without taking anything away from Horouta, Pirates will be tough, as always, and it has been awesome seeing Chewy (Pirates stalwart Aku Smith) making big contributions. Likewise, we hope our experienced players step up tomorrow and lead from the front.”

Campion, out of contention for the top four but aiming to make the Hope Cup (bottom four) final, have picked up a bit of momentum over the past few weeks.

Player-coach Mark Naden has been leading the way, with support from son Matt and Sam Patterson.

“As Year 13s, they are doing a good job of shouldering the workload,” said Mark Naden. “Former players, including Doc McHugh and Michael Rowland, have been awesome. We also have a new crop of Year 9 boys being blooded, including Liam Spring, Luke Hurlstone, Max Briant and Blake Marshall.”

HSOB skipper Scott Tallott is not taking anything for granted.

“Expectations are that we should win but it’s all about runs on the board and wickets,” said Tallott.

“We need some of our experienced players, especially myself, to step up. If we do that, and get contributions from the rest of the team, we’re capable of making the playoffs.”

Tallott said Glen Udall was a key player for his side.

“Pat (Udall) has been in good nick recently.”