Udall blasts 107 in Hope Cup opener

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

It was vintage Glen Udall.

The Gisborne Intermediate principal batted superbly on the school’s boutique ground for an unbeaten 107 in Bollywood High School Old Boys’ 125 run-win over Campion College to open the Hope Cup club cricket season yesterday.

The former Poverty Bay senior representative struck four sixes and 13 boundaries in his 65-ball innings at No.2.

Captain Isaac Hughes said Udall “scored at will” against a Campion seam attack who included Rhys Grogan (two wickets for 54 runs off six overs), Max Briant (1-37 off 6) and Luke Hurlstone (1-37 off 6).

“Blake Marshall (0-26 off 6) was definitely the pick of the bowlers, the most consistent,” said Udall. “The signs are very positive for us and the grade early in the season.”

Hughes won the toss and elected to bat.

First-drop Simon Blaker made a grand return after a three-year break from regular cricket with four sixes and five boundaries in a 54-ball 63 as HSOB posted 221-5 in 30 overs.

In reply, Campion were bowled out for 96 in 26.1 overs. Mike Francis (4-11 off 6), fellow medium-pacer Jody Walters (2-8 off 4) and left-arm orthodox spinner Adam Whibley (2-16 off 6) were HSOB’s most successful bowlers.

Campion captain and opener Liam Spring topscored for the College with 15 from 24 balls.

HSOB wicketkeeper Herman Fourie held vital catches off Francis to remove Campion coach and opener Mark Naden with the score at 17 and No.3 Marshall in the ninth over.

“It was good to blow out the cobwebs and get back into the swing of thing,” said Spring. “Blake and Max were outstanding with the ball but there’s still a lot to work on for our young side.”

n The Hope Cup champs are back.

Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps made a strong start to the season with a six-wicket victory against Gisborne Boys’ High School Colts.

Ngatapa chased down GBHS’s 119-8 in 21.1 overs after Boys’ High captain Daniel Stewart won the toss and chose to bat first.

No.5 Nathan Trowell topscored with 19 runs off 35 balls while seamer Phil Cook (2-5 off), wily veteran Steve Hicky (2-29 off 5), opening bowler James Maher (1-9 off 6) and the deceptive Mike Gibson (1-10 off 4) were all tidy.

GBHS No.10 Sebastian Wilson (13 not out) hit two sixes off right-armer Hicky in a late flurry.

In reply, Jock Spence made 50, including four sixes and five fours, off 24 balls, then chose to retire. No.3 Grant Walsh (38 from 57) looked in good touch until he hammered a ball from leg-spinner Dylan Foster (2-16 off 3.1 overs) to Stewart at mid-on.

Medium-pacers Matt Foster (0-6 off 3) and Dan Watts (1-8 off 2) produced maiden overs in an excellent display of line and length bowling.

Wilson (1-33 off 3) was the other wicket-taker while off-spinner Stewart (0-14 off 3) turned the ball and kept Walsh and others watchful.

Chris Hurlstone, of Ngatapa, was impressed by Boys’ High. “They showed great discipline and control, with a great finish from Wilson.”

Stewart felt they played well but needed to cut out the four-balls, especially in the middle and latter stages.