Weather worries greet first DJ Barry Cup game of season

Preparing to play: High School Old Boys captain Carl Shaw is keen to get back on the park for the start of the DJ Barry Cup tomorrow. HSOB are due to play OBR but rain is forecast. Picture by Paul Rickard

THE weather may have a decisive say in Poverty Bay cricket's first DJ Barry Cup game of the season.

MetService has forecast showers to turn to rain tomorrow afternoon and that could affect how many points High School Old Boys and OBR are able to pick up from the fixture.

They will share the points if they can't get on the park at Harry Barker Reserve but even a few overs could be enough for one team to steal an early advantage in the competition if they can secure points by picking up wickets.

The DJ Barry Cup competition is a longer format of the sport and is designed to mimic the final day of a test match.

Teams pick up points for runs and wickets, which can influence tactics, such as when a team batting might declare their innings closed.

Landmark Homes OBR are the defending champions but several players are expected to be away this weekend.

Bollywood Stars High School Old Boys defeated OBR in the Doleman Cup 40-over competition final before Christmas and, of the three teams in the A grade this season, look the most comfortable with the bat.

The third team, Horouta, have a bye tomorrow.

HSOB captain Carl Shaw said his side were looking forward to playing cricket again.

“I've never played this format so I'm looking forward to the change and excited to see how the different tactics and plans play out,” he said.

“I'll be leaning heavily on team-mates who have experience in the format.”

Shaw felt his side might also learn a few things from how their opponents go about their task.

“It's good to play against OBR first, too. They won last year, so obviously have a good knowledge of the rules.”