Shaw leads the way with a century

captain'S knock: Carl Shaw hit an unbeaten century for High School Old Boys against OBR at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday. HSOB were on top when the match was abandoned because of rain. File picture by Paul Rickard

HIGH School Old Boys skipper Carl Shaw scored an unbeaten ton yesterday and his team will almost certainly meet Horouta in Poverty Bay cricket's DJ Barry Cup final.

HSOB were in a dominant position against OBR, scoring 279 for two in 45 overs, but they bowled just one over before play was abandoned because of rain.

OBR, the champions, couldn't find enough players to field a team against HSOB on Saturday — scheduled as the first match of a weekend double-header between the sides — and their default reinforced their third-place positioning in the three-team competition.

They have one more match in the regular season, against Horouta this weekend, but the game looks set to serve as a final warm-up for Horouta.

Shaw said last week that Bollywood Stars HSOB needed a turnaround in their batting after a disappointing display against Horouta.

He led by example at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday, opening the batting and scoring 108 not out.

The left-handed batsman hit several boundaries through the covers and scored heavily behind square on the leg-side.

Shaw and opening partner Baxter Mackay (59), who scored prolifically through the covers himself, put on a stand of 126 runs for the first wicket.

No.4 Rowan Smith added an unbeaten 62, smashing a six at the end.

If Landmark Homes OBR were going to make headway in the match, they needed early wickets and, though Cody Andrews bent his back, the bowlers couldn't get much out of a docile deck.

OBR tried 10 bowlers — even wicketkeeper Josh Adams shed the pads and had a go — and all but Andrews (0-27 off 10 overs) and Amit Vyas (1-25 off five) leaked runs at the rate of at least six an over.

Shaw said he was happy with the start and HSOB pushed on to get maximum batting points from their innings.

OBR bagged just one bowling point from the day for taking two wickets and both sides collected two extra competition points for the match abandonment.

OBR captain Matt Cook said Shaw and Mackay did well to deny his team early wickets.

“It was hard work out there but we toiled away,” he said.

OBR were missing key personnel and players from their second 11 and Gisborne Boys' High School filled the void.

A deluge of rain came down at 4.20pm and the game was called off soon afterwards.

High School Old Boys 279-2 off 45 overs (Carl Shaw 108 not out, Rowan Smith 62 not out, Baxter Mackay 59) versus OBR 5-1 off 1 over. Match abandoned due to rain.