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“Gisborne . . . get up!”
That was the exhortation from Napier Boys’ High first 11 coach Mike Pawson in advance of Gisborne Boys’ High Schools’ 50-over Super 8 tournament clash with Tauranga Boys’ College in Tauranga today.
Pawson’s Napier beat the Paul Stewart-led Gisborne by 10 wickets yesterday (Tuesday), which followed an eight-wicket loss to Palmerston North for Gisborne on Day 1.
Against Napier yesterday, Stewart won the toss and elected to bowl on a hard, true Fergusson Park pitch.
Gisborne were bowled out for 88 in 31 overs of the Pool B match, and Napier went on to win in style.
Opening batsman Baylee Foote made an unbeaten 40, bringing up the winning runs with a six off the first ball of the seventh over.
“Gisborne’s a young side and our boys are useful but I’d love to see Gisborne upset the home team - Tauranga,” said Pawson.
While outgunned, Gisborne has shown courage.
Daniel Stewart (six runs off 55 balls) did a good job in fighting partnerships for the eighth (19 runs), ninth (13) and 10th wickets (five runs).
Maybe Gisborne should look at bowling first, if they win the toss, and give their seamers a go. They might chase some leather but they could also nick a few batsmen out.”
No.1 Jack Faulkner was Gisborne’s top scorer yesterday, with 21 off 26 balls, including four fours. But he lost opening partners Travis Mitchell (12) and Paul Stewart in consecutive balls to medium-pacer Liam Hall (3-17 off seven overs) with the score at 17.
Zeppo Page (12), batting at No.9, was the only other Gisborne batsman to score in double-figures.
Seamers Logan Trower took 3-26 off eight then hit an unbeaten 42 off 22 balls.
Gisborne began the tournament in Tauranga with an eight-wicket loss to Palmerston North.
Gisborne won the toss, opted to bat and were bowled out for 59 in 30.4 overs.
Talented leg-spinner Hugo Wakeling took 3-11 off seven overs on a hard wicket that took turn.
Pacemen Josh West (3-20 off five) and Levi Woolston (2-5 off six), left-arm orthodox spinner Charlie Lourie (1-6 off 3.4 overs) gave Wakeling excellent support.
Only opener Jack Faulkner, with 14 off 34 balls, made double-figures.
Palmerston North chased down Gisborne’s’ 59 in 10.5 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Ruben Love (29 not out) steered last year’s third-placed team to victory but not before opening bowler Jacob Colbert took 2-21 off four).
Newly-enlisted ‘keeper Travis Mitchell held a very good catch and Colbert made a strong impression on Palmerston North coach Scott Davidson.
“Jacob swung the ball in prodigiously and he beat the bat a number of times.
“Gisborne also had a couple of decisions, which could have gone either way, go against them in the first innings.”
Paul Stewart said: “we didn’t perform with the bat but we created near-chances with the ball. Daniel’s been battling away for us — four runs off 47 balls v PNBHS, six runs off 55 balls v Napier. He’s tried hard.”