Openers in dominant form

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK: Gisborne Boys’ High School opening batsman Drew Scott played a captain’s innings against High School Old Boys in DJ Barry Cup cricket at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday. Scott, standing in as skipper in the absence of Robbie Tallott, scored 92 off 94 balls as Boys’ High reached 169. HSOB achieved their target for the loss of five wickets. Pictures by Paul Rickard

TWO opening batsmen dominated club cricket on Saturday.

Fifteen-year-old Drew Scott scored 92 off 94 balls for Gisborne Boys’ High School against High School Old Boys while Pirates’ Olly Tilley scored an unbeaten 151 against Campion College.

Boys’ High made a respectable 169 against title contenders Tamarind HSOB, who went on to win by five wickets.

Defending DJ Barry Cup champions Kevin Hollis Glass Pirates had no difficulty beating the inexperienced Campion side, who are missing their recent school-leavers and other players who are on holiday.

Pirates amassed 307-5 before dismissing Campion for 57.

Scott captained a youthful Boys’ High side in the absence of regular skipper Robbie Tallott.

Boys’ High coach Ben O’Brien-Leaf said Saturday’s side had one player from Year 12, one from Year 11, five players from Year 10 and three from Year 9, along with GBHS (2) assistant coach Peter Stewart.

Scott hit 13 fours and a six in his innings and featured in a 70-run partnership with Sam Veitch (19) for the ninth wicket.

“I was pleased with Drew’s innings,’’ O’Brien-Leaf said.

“He is a classy player with a high work rate, and is very committed.

“He can justifiably be proud of himself.”

O’Brien-Leaf said Scott played straight very well. He had a good defence and knew which ball to leave.

He struck the ball cleanly and stood up to Poverty Bay pace bowler Jak Rowe.

Scott had scored 78 this season at the Riverbend rep tournament and 85 for Poverty Bay under-15s.

“The 92 is the best I have seen him play,’’ his coach said.

“He now has to go and score a century.”

O’Brien-Leaf said his side had ‘‘half a chance’’ of beating HSOB with 169.

“But only if they played badly.”

For HSOB, Rowe took 2-19 and Caleb Greaves, 3-26.

When HSOB batted, Jeremy Tucker made 46 and Ajay Kumar, 54.

Hunter Jones’s talent shone through despite his Campion side getting a thrashing from Pirates.

He deceived Pirates opener Brad Reynolds, playing his 100th game for his club, dismissing him for two with a slower delivery.

A golden duckJones then bowled Caleb Robinson for a golden duck to have the Buccaneers 14-2.

Fifteen-year-old Tayla Hollis, a promising Northern Districts rep, had to face a hat-trick ball in her first innings for Pirates.

She survived the delivery and went on to score 10 in a 99-run partnership with Tilley.

Tom Needham retired after a rapid-fire 52 off 27 balls, while Dane Thompson got to 39 before being the third player to be bowled by Jones.

Thompson told his teammates, “I don’t mind getting out to that. That was a good nut”.

Tilley’s 151 not out was a record innings by a Pirates batsman, beating the 141no made by Tim Breese four years ago.

The opener batted for 159 minutes, faced 131 balls and struck 17 boundaries and one six.

Pirates used seven bowlers in dismissing Campion, Luke Hayes taking 4-19.

HSOB 170-5 (J Tucker 46, A Kumar 54) defeated GBHS 169 (D Scott 92, S Veitch 19; J Rowe 2-19, C Greaves 3-26).

Pirates 307-5 (O Tilley 151no, T Needham 52 retired, D Thompson 39; H Jones 3-45) defeated Campion 57 (M Naden 16; L Hayes 4-19, Aku Smith 2-4).