OBR sink Pirates hopes of a third successive Doleman Cup

doleman cup champions: OBR celebrate their demolition of Pirates in the Doleman Cup club cricket final. Back row (from left) are Arun Ramachadran, Kieran Venema, Nick Greeks, Timoti Weir, Pratik Jethwa, Matt Cook and Carl Carmody. Front: Braydon Harwood, Jimmy Holden, Craig Christophers, Jonathan Purcell and Ian Loffler. Front is Loffler’s son Cohen. OBR won by seven wickets. Pictures by Paul Rickard

MAGNIFICENT opening spells of bowling from Timoti Weir and Jimmy Holden, backed up by superb catching, sank Pirates hopes of a third successive Doleman Cup title.

The Landmark Homes Bain Construction OBR pair ripped through the Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates batting at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.

They took seven wickets between them as Pirates were dismissed for 86 from 28.2 of their allotted 35 overs.

Weir was the chief destroyer, taking four wickets for 23 runs off seven overs. Holden picked up 3-26 off seven.

OBR won their first Doleman Cup since the 2010-2011 season, reaching their target with seven wickets in hand.

“?‘Big Bird’ (Weir) and Jimmy opened the bowling and were right on the money,” said OBR captain Jonathan Purcell, who collected his first trophy since being appointed skipper last season.

“The boys in the field backed them up, with Craig Christophers and Ian Loffler taking two screamers to dismiss Tom Needham and Richie Needham.

“Craig’s was a one-hander down low, a real reaction catch.”

Purcell also took a scorcher of a catch to send danger man Dane Thompson back to the pavilion for four runs, reducing Pirates to 30-3.

Needhams and Turner dismissedThat became 36-6 when the Needham brothers and Pirates captain Mitchell Turner were dismissed.

Vice-captain Brad Reynolds and Luke Hayes shared a seventh-wicket stand of 22 as they fought to revive the innings but after Reynolds was caught by wicketkeeper Kieran Venema off the bowling of Matt Cook, Pirates lost their last three wickets for 28 runs.

Although Purcell tried to play down his catch to remove Thompson, Holden said that was a key moment.

“Dane is a key player and to get him out for four runs was huge.”

Purcell said:“I didn’t have time to think. The ball just flew at me, waist-high. I put out two hands and it stuck.

“Jimmy bowled seven straight overs and did what he and Timoti have been doing for the past three weeks, bowling line and length and taking wickets.

“Jimmy’s one of the most consistent bowlers in the district. He’s got a great outswinger and a lot of batsmen struggle to play him”

Holden, who joined OBR along with Matt Cook when OBM folded in 2004, said the team spirit among the OBR players was second to none.

“A lot of us play or played football for United in the winter and then cricket for OBR in the summer,” said the man who arrived in New Zealand from Blackburn in 1999.

“We’re mates on and off the field. We like to socialise but once we’re on the pitch we’re totally committed and fiercely competitive.”

Turner took the loss on the chin“It was one of those days,” he said.

“Everything we hit went to their hands. Everything they hit found the gaps.

“Defending 86 was always going to be hard but you still have to go out there with the belief you can defend it and we bowled them out for less than that in last year’s DJ Barry Cup semifinal.”

OBR opening batsmen Christophers and Brayden Harwood put on 25 runs before Christophers was caught by Inder Singh off the bowling of Richie Needham.

Loffler followed one run later, caught by Olly Tilley off the bowling of Turner.

Any hopes of a Pirates comeback all but ended when Harwood and Carl Carmody took the score to 59 when Carmody was bowled by Tom Needham for 22.

Harwood, promoted to open after consistent performances, justified that decision when he and Nick Greeks shared an unbroken 31-run partnership to see OBR home. Harwood was 24 not out and Greeks unbeaten on 21.