Premier-grade cricket returns

High School Old Boys captain Carl Shaw

Premier-grade cricket returns tomorrow with High School Old Boys playing Horouta and Gisborne Boys' High School playing OBR in the DJ Barry Cup 50-over competition.

It will be the first time in three weeks that Coastal Concrete OBR and Siteworx Civil Horouta have taken the field. They did not play the final round of the Walker Shield, and last week's DJ Barry Cup games were postponed after poor weather degraded the pitches.

Galaxy World GBHS and Bollywood Stars HSOB come into tomorrow's games after a tense Walker Shield final two weeks ago.

HSOB captain Carl Shaw said his players were excited to get back into the swing of things after their week off.

“There's lots of positive energy around the squad at the moment and we are really enjoying our cricket.”

Horouta captain David Situ said his side's batting would be key to the outcome of the game.

“I think we'll need a complete all-round performance to win against HSOB,” he said.

“The batting department needs to dig in especially.”

Shaw said patience and execution of their plans would be crucial to making early inroads into the Horouta batting line-up.

“They have a lot of players who can get hold of anything loose.

“If we minimise extras and value our wickets when batting, as well as bat in partnerships, we will give ourselves the best chance of victory.”

GBHS will be without bowler Keegan Jooste and the competition's best batsman in Graham Sharp but will still be a handful for OBR.

They have substantial depth in their reserves, and captain Nathan Trowell said the players were excited to be putting back on their signature black-and-red baggy hats.

“The lads have been training really hard, so we're keen to be playing more cricket.”

With 50 overs to work with, he is looking for disciplined pressure from his batsmen so they can target OBR with the ball.

“We want to take a few early poles and apply the pressure from the start.”

OBR have been consistent all season in their performances but may need to step up a gear to win this one.

With several players unavailable because of prior commitments, they will be stretched thin but will still be dangerous.

The team will be captained this weekend by Ian Loffler, with regular captain Nick Greeks away.

Loffler said there wasn't much else to say other than they had struggled to get enough players for tomorrow.

“We are just keen to get a team out there.”