A top-of-the-table Hope Cup clash between OBR and Ngatapa tomorrow will be good cricket.
Eight rounds into a 14-week Senior B season, Rawhiti Legal OBR lead the Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps by 0.034 on net run-rate — both teams have 16 competition points. Horouta have nine, Campion College six, and Hope Cup holders Bollywood Stars High School Old Boys Presidents and Gisborne Boys’ High School (2) both have one point.
Ngatapa are up for 1 v 2 in 30-over action on Harry Barker Reserve No.1.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing the top team,” Ngatapa captain Grant Walsh said.
“OBR are a good side well led by Craig Christophers. They have dangerous players who, on their day, can be match-winners. It’s a great opportunity to head into the break with one team ahead.”
The game has all the makings of a classic. Walsh, Jeremy Castles and Jack Jefferd, plus star all-rounder Ryan West, firm up Ngatapa’s batting arm while seamers Zac Borrie and Thor Crombie will tomorrow be joined by former Campion College spearhead Blake Marshall.
Ngatapa’s danger factor in the field will go up by 20 percent on his inclusion. Marshall’s anticipation, quickness, speed to the ball, catching ability and throwing arm make him a fielder to watch.
Christophers and Thom Berry put on 65 runs as openers in OBR’s five-wicket win against Horouta last week. The competition leaders had some anxious moments but Horouta Te Waka knew their total of 127 would not be enough unless wickets fell in a heap early on.
Mel Knight’s Horouta side are out to put up more than 127 against Campion on HBR 3.
“We’ve batted well recently,” Knight said.
“Our bowlers are consistently taking wickets; we’re confident in our ability to get a result.
“But we’ll have to work hard and not take Campion lightly, as they have some talented cricketers.”
Levi Alexander and captain-proper Liam Spring return for Campion in place of cousins Ramandeep and Gagandeep Singh, while Hamish Swann — who led the college to victory over GBHS (2) by four runs in Round 7 — can take pride in knowing that his 29 from No.1 on that occasion was a good knock. He is level-headed and competitive.
At stake tomorrow will be the Naden-Taylor Trophy, contested by Campion and holders Horouta. The Waka hold the balance of power 4-2 in the fixture.
HSOB Presidents and GBHS (2) have both taken wickets, held catches and scored runs, but they haven’t done enough of either.
Boys’ High have passed 100 only once to date and, with the Christmas break to follow, need their top-order batsmen to first get set, then go on. Only Kelan Bryant (54 from No.3 against Horouta) has done that for them. His younger team members might hope he does that again against the Presidents.
Ollie Needham’s HSOB side do not deserve to be winless. They have a great pace bowler in Jason Lines. Facing him should be a thrill and a challenge that his young opponents will rise to tomorrow from 2pm — or not.
Harry Barker Reserve No.4 is a good wicket. This would seem to be an opportune moment.
Gisborne Boys’ High School (2): Kelan Bryant, Lukas Fry (cc), Ben Langford, Gareth Langford, Malsha Mahabalage, Akira Makiri, Keanu Makiri, Jarrod Ormiston, Bekko Page (cc), Riker Rolls, Jett Whitaker, Kavindu Withanage (wkp).
HSOB Presidents: Nic Armour, Jeff Chambers, Nathaniel Fearnley, Isaac Hughes, Kyle Jean-Louis, Mahmood Khan, Anil Kumar, Jason Lines, Ollie Needham (c, wkp), Nathan Quimpo, Yegan Lanka.
Ngatapa Green Caps: Zac Borrie, Jeremy Castles, Thor Crombie, Ben Holden, Chris Hurlstone, Jack Jefferd, Blake Marshall, Cam McNaught (wkp), Grant Walsh (c), Ryan West, Harry White.
OBR: Thom Berry (wkp), Craig Christophers (c), Olly Garland, Sean Henry, Matt Lotar Mcfatter, George Reynolds, Tim Scrimshaw, Rongomai Smith, Mana Taumanu, Lloyd van Zyl, Phil Viljoen, Amit Vyas.
Horouta: Clarence Campbell, Bhushan Dave, Riley Horsfield (wkp), James Craig, Grace Levy, Aman Kamboj, Mel Knight (c), Piumal Madasanka, Nathan McLoughlin, Billy Morse, Mike Tapp.
Campion College: Aiden Armstrong, Daniel Baillie (wkp), Izahn Duckworth, Jonty Fenn, Rhys Grogan, Luke Hurlstone, Taye McGuinness, Gagandeep Singh, Manjot Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Connor Starck, Hamish Swann (c).