HSOB, OBR and GBHS are all on two wins, with the only thing separating them being net run rate.
HSOB have looked dominant at times, particularly last weekend when they won by 167 runs.
Boys’ High showed they are not infallible. Last weekend they lost to OBR, who are led by veteran Ian Loffler.
OBR haven’t had a truly dominant performance yet, but have been steadily chipping away at their opponents and earning good results.
Loffler said his team would be underdogs against HSOB tomorrow.
“HSOB are the reigning champs and at the top of the table,” he said.
“They have hit some form with the bat and look like the team to beat.”
He said OBR would look to build on their performance last week. The early stages of each innings would be crucial.
“We need someone to go big in our top four with the batting and to bat in partnerships. In the field, we will focus hard on early wickets.”
The OBR side will welcome back all-rounder Jonathan Purcell and will hope his leg-spin bolsters their bowling line-up.
HSOB captain Carl Shaw said his side were looking forward to the challenge of OBR.
“They’ve been looking good and off the back of two good wins will be confident.”
He said key playmakers for his team — the likes of Thorn Parkes and last week’s centurion Tyler Phelps — were in great touch.
“We just need to keep improving,” he said.
“Everyone in the squad is capable of a match-winning performance.”
Horouta have been struggling to find their form this season. They’re in a rebuilding phase and remain winless over their first three games.
Their captain, David Situ, said the team had got together at training and unanimously agreed they had been losing games with their fielding.
“If we don’t field well as a team, it doesn’t matter how well we bat or bowl,” Situ said.
“It’s a bit of a combination of people not walking in, which is allowing quick singles, and poor catching.”
He said Horouta had done fielding practice at training and would look to their experienced players to keep the energy up during lulls in play.
Horouta have a “couple of new guys” in the team this weekend. Situ said he would have trouble picking a playing 11 with so many quality players available.
Although Horouta had an automatic semifinals berth, Horouta would look to build momentum in the second round.
“I’ve told the guys we’ll make the semis, but we still want to win every weekend.”
Boys’ High were missing several vital players last weekend, and it will be intriguing to see how the reintroduction of batsman Nicholas Hendrie and spin bowler Liam Barbier influence their game.
Hendrie, with a century and a not-out score, has a batting average of 118 this season. Barbier is the second leading wicket-taker in the competition. He lost first place to HSOB bowler Marshall Norris, who took seven wickets last Saturday.
GBHS coach Mal Trowell thanked the players who stepped up from their second 11 to play OBR last weekend but welcomed the return to a full squad for tomorrow.
He said the next round would be “crucial” to build up momentum going into the semifinals.
“We’re happy with where we’re at. We’re proving that we’re competitive.”
He said this weekend was about continuing where they’d left off and making sure the little things were done right . . . “just not being too complacent and making sure we come out and do the job again.”
OBR look as though they might be the black horses of the season. They play as a team, rather than have stand-out performers.
