After posting 232-8, with opener Carl Shaw (71no), skipper Scott Tallott (51) and No.6 Ajay Kumar (40) leading the charge, HSOB rolled OBR for 56, with spinner Gagan Dhinga taking five wickets for five runs.
OBR’s strength this season has been their bowling attack of Jimmy Holden, Timoti Weir, Arun Kurup, Craig Christophers and captain Jonathan Purcell. The return of Hamish Evans has added to that department
On paper, tomorrow’s match looks a case of the best batting line-up against the best bowling attack. But on reflection, that would be a disservice to Jak Rowe, Dhinga, Shaw, Kumar, Ryan Majstrovic, Sam Tallott and David Salmon.
“The OBR seamers have been consistent all season, taking wickets and restricting runs,” Scott Tallott said.“It’s important that we don’t let them get on top early on.
“I think we have a more varied attack. I’ve under-bowled Ajay in the cup because I’ve not needed him but he’s a bowler capable of delivering six different balls every over.”
OBR club captain and top-order-batsman Ian Loffler said beating Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates in last weekend’s sudden-death semifinal was ideal preparation.
“It’s helped us prepare for playing under pressure and building momentum for tomorrow,’ Loffler said.
“It will be interesting to see if guys like Scott (Tallott) and Carl (Shaw) can step up in a final when the pressure is on.
“Hamish is bowling pretty quick and he stepped it up a level last week.
Loffler is wary of a HSOB side he said were realising their potential. Majstrovic had done a good job of developing a strong squad boosted by players from the Bollywood All-Stars team, who did not enter a team this season.
“HSOB are a good team with lots of depth. It will be a tough match tomorrow. But we’ve got plenty of experience and our team spirit is awesome.
“We’ve played together for years, are good mates and we have each other’s backs.”
Loffler said Arun Kurup had been great value over the past few seasons. “He’s a wicket-to-wicket bowler and a hard-hitting batsman.”
OBR hope to have all-rounder Weir available to bowl after he was used solely as a batsman last weekend because of a shoulder injury.
“We’ll see how Timoti comes through after a fitness test on his bowling,” said Loffler, whose 13-year-old son Cohen (13) is in the match-day 12.
Loffler junior has batted in the lower order and was unbeaten on seven last week.
Kieran Venema returns to the side after missing the past few games and will open with Craig Christophers, who has been the standout performer all season with bat and ball, and in the field.
