Patience over aggression earns praise

DEFENSIVE MODE: Poverty Bay’s Kieran Venema curbed his natural aggression and occupied time in the crease against Waikato Valley, something the other batsmen should learn from, said coach Lance Cairns. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

KIERAN Venema scored 11 not out and 16 in two innings for Poverty Bay against Waikato Valley in a Fergus Hickey two-day game at Harry Barker Reserve over the weekend.

But despite his 27-run total batting at No.7 in the first dig and No.4 in the second, Venema earned praise from Bollywood Stars Bay coach Lance Cairns.

“Kieran batted a long time in the first innings — 120 minutes — and faced 93 balls. Hopefully the other batsmen will look at that and learn from it,” said Cairns, whose side were dismissed for 92 runs after winning the toss and batting first.

“Kieran is an aggressive batsmen but he showed he’s reading the game, and has the right mindset to defend and occupy the crease when necessary.

“In hindsight, batting first probably wasn’t a good decision, but at the time and with the way the weather was shaping up, it seemed the right decision.

“I backed Danny (Gibbs, Bay captain) when he made the call.

“We dropped the guy who went on to score a ton (Dillion Kelliher 134) early on and then dropped a couple of catches not long after. They weren’t easy catches but catches win matches.”

All out for 92, including 20 from tailender Blake Taylor, who shared a 30-run stand with Venema, the Bay had no option but to attack.

“We had to take wickets,” Cairns said. “I told the bowlers to tell Danny what fields they wanted and bowl to them.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. Our openers (Richard Mills and Jak Rowe) didn’t bowl consistently in the right channels.

“Bowling-wise, we need our bowlers to be going at two or three runs an over. I want them to force the batsmen to block deliveries — to put uncertainty into their minds.

“If they do that, wickets will come and if they don’t come, the run rate stays down. But as I keep saying, it’s all a learning process. If anyone thinks they can come in and make the Bay a winning team straight away, it’s not being realistic.”

Part of the process means the Bay will not play Fergus Hickey games in the immediate future. They are dropping to the Basil McBurney Trophy competition, which is the Northern Districts second 11 one-day competition.

“If we were continuing in the Fergus Hickey I would certainly look at bringing draft players, but I want to develop young players here to be good enough to play for Northern Districts,” Cairns said.

“We’ll continue with our local policy, starting with the Taupo one-day tournament next month.”

Cairns also praised wicketkeeper/batsman Scott Tallott and groundsman Rowan Clark for their weekend efforts.

“Scott’s an aggressive batsman but he showed he can put his head down and stick around with an unbeaten 22 in our second innings.

“Looking at the weather Rowan has had to contend with recently, he does a great job. The guy who hit the ton pulled and drove, and the ball flew off the bat, which shows it was a good wicket in those conditions . . . well done to Rowan.”