Stewart's 50 highlight as Bay go down

YOUNG GUN: Pirates medium-pace bowler Sam Patterson, above, and Gisborne Boys’ High School captain Paul Stewart have been picked for the Poverty Bay squad to play in the Northern Districts Twenty20 tournament. Picture by Liam Clayton

PAUL Stewart continued his strong form for Poverty Bay in the Northern Districts secondary schoolboys tournament at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday.

Unfortunately, Stewart’s knock of 50 wasn’t enough to prevent the home side from losing their third successive game.

After going down in their two twenty20 games on Monday, the Bay were beaten by Northland in the first of two 50-over matches.

The home side played Waikato Valley in the bottom-four semifinals today — another 50-over clash.

Bay captain Drew Scott won the toss yesterday and elected to bat first. It was decision that backfired as his side lost four wickets for 39 runs and were eventually dismissed for 124 in 39.4 overs.

Sam Webb (three wickets for nine runs) and Sean West (3-33) did the damage with the ball for the northerners.

Stewart, who took 4-5 with the ball against Bay of Plenty Lakelands on Monday, topscored for Poverty Bay.

He faced 98 deliveries and hit five fours in his half-century. The Gisborne Boys’ High student showed a lot of patience but lacked support.

Northland reached their winning target for the loss of just one wicket.

Openers Luke Trigg and Lewis Miller put on 80 runs before Trigg was run out by Matt Hudson for 41 (off 46 balls), including five fours.

Miller carried his bat with an unbeaten 58 from 78 balls. He hit six fours.

Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty Coastlands were the only two unbeaten teams going into today’s semifinals.