“The boys are enjoying their cricket, having won three on the trot, and we’d like to welcome Angus Orsler into our team,” said Hurlstone.
“I’d say we’ll be using at least 30 players this season and so it’s good that Mike Gibson and our ’keeper, Simon Wilson, have shown real leadership on-field. Simon’s a great asset behind the stumps.”
Ngatapa bowled OBR out for 138 in 25.4 overs at the Harry Barker Reserve last Saturday: Jeremy Darby (4-20) and Jimmy Maher (4-23) were the men most directly responsible.
The steady line and length of Phil Cook is now reinforced by fair pace, and Horouta will look to trump that with batting tenacity. Experienced ’keeper-batsman Terry Temoananui is unavailable, and so Ranasinghe (the Waka’s top-scorer in R4, with 26) must make a score of consequence. Horouta has depth and talent in bowling, but did not defend 145 last week against HSOBP and 150-160 just has a different ring to it. In the absence of Temoananui, Ranasinghe will take the gloves.
They will fight.
Campion, without captain Liam Spring, steady seamer Luke Hurlstone and the spearhead of their bowling attack — Blake Marshall — are set to knuckle down against the most level-headed team imaginable: OBR. “We’re having fun and just trying to improve every game — our goals are simple: for each batsman to score 10-plus runs and every bowler to bowl 6 good balls in a row. Liam, Luke and Blake are away at a national shooting competition, but we always enjoy playing OBR.”
Makaraka School principal Hayden Swann is back in action for Campion this week along with Brendon Barker-Quinn, and the willingness of older participants to help clubs field teams is a special component of the Hope Cup.
Opening bat Christophers is coming off a score of 22 against Ngatapa — Loffler made 64 that day — and so they, with Christophers’ partner at No.2 Phil Viljoen (33 against HSOB), have all made runs this season. Mark Naden’s side must adhere to the basics (bowl line and length, hold their catches). If they do that, they can hold OBR to under 200.
Matt King’s half-century and Mark Naden’s gutsy 26 against the GBHS Colts on an artificial wicket at Nelson Park gave Campion a defendable score last weekend. Two scores of 30-plus and a host of modest contributions in double-figures could make this clash a spicy one — but one special innings for Campion would be big for the younger team.
Another special innings by Glen Udall would very much be the ticket for HSOB.
GBHS started superbly against Campion in R4 but then allowed the game to drift: Campion, from 9-75 off 20.2 overs, yet posted 134.
GBHS captain Daniel Stewart said: “We’re growing in confidence, coming off a win against a good team. HSOB are going to be tough, but our goals are to pick up a few wickets and put up a good total against them.”
His opposite, HSOB skipper Isaac Hughes, is as always positive about cricket.
“I’m pretty proud of our boys. We’re starting to get it together. Our goals are for four or more people to get scores of over 20 so we don’t leave it all to Pat (Udall).”
The GBHS Colts play HSOB Presidents on HB1, Horouta against Ngatapa will unfold on the HB practice block and Campion face OBR on HB3. All games start at 2pm tomorrow.
