Toss proves crucial

BLASTING AWAY: David Salmon was in fine form for Bail Breakers in their T15 Blast victory over Stars yesterday. He scored 61 not out off 49 balls. File picture by Paul Rickard

CRICKET

WINNING the toss proved crucial in the opening games of the Walker Shield T15 Blast at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday.

Auto Tyres Eagles skipper Carl Shaw and Smash Palace Bail Breakers captain Jak Rowe both called correctly and opted to bat first in their victories over Eastland Broncos and Bollywood Stars in the 15-over games, which attracted a crowd of around 50 spectators.

“Winning the toss and batting first gave us a huge advantage with the good light at the start of the game,” said Shaw, who hit four fours in his innings of 43 not out off 31 balls.

“The wicket is never going to deteriorate that much; in the end it came down to the light.”

That may be so, but it should take nothing away from the batting of Matt Crampton and Shaw.

Crampton cracked eight fours on his way to a quickfire 62 off 41 balls as the Eagles scored 160-3, setting the Broncos a run rate of just under 11 runs an over to win.

Tom Needham and Jack Faukner led the charge with knocks of 34 off 30 balls and 33 off 33 but, as Shaw said, having first dig was the key to victory.

“It’s not the way you want to win games but it did get dark earlier than expected,” Shaw said.

“We’ll get longer days and hopefully that will even the games out.”

Shaw was delighted with the performances of returning players Carl Carmody, Nick Butler and Keogh brothers Sam and Tom.

“It was great having them back. Carl and Matt gave us a flying start and the others bowled tight overs that kept the pressure on the batsmen.”

Bail Breakers captain Rowe agreed about the toss and batting-first decision.

“We batted first for the light, and we have a strong batting line-up,” Rowe said.

“Even though we scored only 105, we backed ourselves to win.

“We lost early wickets — we were 42 for four — but David Salmon batted brilliantly (61no off 49 balls, with six fours) to give the bowlers something to defend, and they did.

“Everyone chipped in, but credit has to go to Jacob Colbert (3-18 off three overs) and Josiah Turner (2-4).

Colbert, who also added 19 valuable runs, took two wickets in his first over. One of them was the prize wicket of Bruce Kerr, bowled for 20.

Rowe is still recovering from a side injury that prevents him from bowling.

Chasing seven runs an over to tie the game, the Stars — thanks to Ajay Kumar, 27 off 25 balls, and Paul Stewart, 19no — gave themselves a fighting chance. Even when Kumar was dismissed, the equation was 14 runs to win off 10 deliveries with three wickets in hand.

Skipper Glen Udall joined Stewart and was quickly in action as they reduced the target to nine runs off six deliveries.

Poverty Bay captain Nick Hendrie bowled the last over. Off the first ball, Udall scored one run but was run out going for the second, and the game had swung back Bail Breakers’ way.

Matt Cook was the next batsman in, but Hendrie was able to keep the flow of runs in check, and Bail Breakers joined the Eagles as first-game winners.

“It was an awesome night,” Hendrie said.

“We had spectators, music and a game that went down to the last over. I’m happy with that for a start.

“One thing we did learn was that bowlers will have to get through the overs quicker. We were lucky we had the bright pink ball, but it was getting hard to see.”

Eagles 160-3 (M Crampton 62, Carl Shaw 43no) def Broncos 117-7 (Tom Needham 34, Jack Faulkner 33; Baxter Mackay 2-6).

Bail Breakers 105-4 (David Salmon 61no; Ajay Kumar 2-26) def Stars 100-8 (Ajay Kumar 29, Bruce Kerr 20, Paul Stewart 19no; Jacob Colbert 3-18, Josiah Turner 2-4).