Six wickets for 35 runs

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

HIGH School Old Boys made short work of Gisborne Boys’ High School on Saturday to ensure their place in cricket’s DJ Barry Cup final.

Batting first, Galaxy World GBHS struggled to find momentum against Dan Torrie’s left-arm pace for Bollywood Stars HSOB.

Torrie’s haul of six wickets for 35 runs was crucial in slowing down the scoring as wickets fell at a steady rate.

Captain Nathan Trowell (25) and Keegan Jooste (23) put up some resistance midway through the order, but it was primarily one-way traffic as GBHS struggled to get their motor running.

Despite nearly batting their entire innings — a goal Trowell said they had set before the game — Boys’ High could manage only 132 runs at less than three an over.

HSOB then looked to make a statement with the bat as they came out and scored quickly from the start.

Baxter Mackay (34) and Ajay Kumar (71 not out) provided the highlights with an 84-run opening partnership that took the game away from GBHS.

Despite the early dismissal of Scott Tallott after Mackay was caught behind, Boys’ High didn’t have much success with the ball and HSOB cruised to a quick eight-wicket victory.

With Kumar hitting at a strike rate of almost 150, it took them just 17 overs to reach their target and give GBHS their fourth loss of the 2022 competition. Trowell said the Boys’ High batting went wrong midway through their innings and they let the game get away from them.

“We lost too many wickets in that period of the innings, which cost us the game. We just need longer-lasting partnerships with the bat.”

Although they had posted their lowest total of the season, Trowell said they still believed they could defend the total if they took early wickets.

“They got off to a flying start,” he said.

HSOB captain Carl Shaw said he was proud of Torrie’s courage and control with the ball, which had set them up for the win.

“Ajay (Kumar) showed his class and a full array of shots, which took the pressure off everyone else.”

While it was a convincing win, Shaw said they still had areas to work on ahead of their last two games of the season.

“We still have things to clean up with extras and dropped catches, but I’m happy with how we are progressing throughout the season.”