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POVERTY Bay cricket coach Lance Cairns said a 10-wicket loss to Hawke’s Bay in Napier on Sunday was not a case of his side “getting a reality check”.
Poverty Bay went into the 50-over game against the holders on the back of two wins against Northern Districts Maori, in 35-over and Twenty20 formats.
“I don’t think it was case of a reality check,” said Cairns, whose team play Waikato Valley in a Fergus Hickey two-day game in Gisborne this weekend.
Cairns said the game plan for the first 25 overs was to go at 3.5 runs an over, and Poverty Bay were on track.
Openers Danny Gibbs (captain) and Thomas Hayes put on 55 before Gibbs was dismissed for 28 with the last ball of the 14th over.
Hayes and Richard Mills added 22 more runs before Mills departed for six.
Hayes, who top-scored with 39, was next to go with the score at 76 after 22.4 overs.
“To lose the next seven wickets for 72 runs, including two silly run-outs and two bad lbw (leg before wicket) decisions was disappointing,” Cairns said.
“That took the game away from us.
“They (Hawke’s Bay) had a couple of good bowlers — not outstanding but good — and we can’t blame the pitch.
“It just went all wrong for us after a good start and went all right for Hawke’s Bay on the day.
“Despite the result, I still believe we have something here.”
Poverty Bay didn’t help themselves when they dropped both the home side’s openers in the first two overs, then put down catches in the next four overs.
“They realised it was their day and just went for it,” Cairns said.
“All our bowlers beat the bat regularly but in between we bowled some rubbish balls that got punished.”
Cairns said he was looking forward to a two-day game.
“I think that format will suit us better.
“We’ll also have Craig Christophers and Jak Rowe back, and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t hold our own against Waikato Valley.
“Their better players will be with Northern Districts so there shouldn’t be too much difference between us.
“Thomas (Hayes) is looking good and is applying himself but I’d like to see Danny (Gibbs) and Scott Tallott score more runs.
“Scott is the most talented player in the team but he needs to focus on hitting the ball along the ground early in his innings before going after the big shots.
“He’s definitley good enough to score runs at this level; he just needs to listen more and apply himself, and then he’ll get the rewards.
“Richard Mills is another I believe will come good, with bat and ball. He’s new to the team but is settling in OK.”