Wins to Gisborne’s Ngatapa, Presidents in Poverty Bay Hope Cup cricket

Ngatapa and HSOB Presidents had victories in round 4 of the Hope Cup Senior B 30-over competition.

Patutahi’s finest, like lifelong mates, would subscribe to the maxim that good things take time.

And Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps' four-wicket win against Horouta Te Waka in round 4 of the Senior B Grade 30-over Hope Cup last Saturday was a lesson in patience.

“We got the win, which was touch and go at one stage,” Ngatapa skipper Charles Morrison said. “Horouta had us on the back foot at 43-4 after 8.4 overs, but Mike Gibson and Hoffman Haasbroek brought it home for us.”

Stanley Blake, deputising for regular skipper Riley Horsfield, won the toss on Harry Barker Reserve No 1 and chose to bat.

He led by example with an unbeaten knock of 56 after opener Tony Bucheler (24) set the tone with a committed, watchful innings.

Buchler, promising youngster Jack Williams (2) and Ethan Ngarangione-Pearson (11 from 11) fell victim to the wiles of medium-pacer Gibson (3-28 off five overs), who came on at second change.

Fellow medium-pacer George Whitehead, at first change, took 2-34 off 5 and off-spinner Archie Gillies got 1-12 off 5 as Horouta posted 141-8.

Horouta’s hearty James Craig (2-1 off 4), the bustling foil to spearhead Billy Morse (1-25 off 5), moved the game Te Waka’s way with his fourth and last over during which he bowled Morrison (17) and first drop Jacque Davis (14).

But Gibson (28 from 30) and Haasbroek (48 not out in 40 balls) responded with a 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket, which took Ngatapa to within nine runs of their target.

Haasbroek did the honours when he nudged a single off medium-pacer Williams' first ball of the 22nd over.

“Ngatapa outplayed us and we didn’t take our chances,” Blake said.

“In the first innings, Archie bowled really well to his field and in the run chase, Gibbo and Hoffman punished just about every bad ball that we bowled to them.”

Young players learn by watching what good players do.

Gisborne Boys' High School Second XI, whose bowlers worked hard to keep the Chicking High School Old Boys batsmen honest at the weekend, will have taken a lot on board for the rest of their campaign

Presidents, under Sean Moran, beat the students by 54 runs after he won the toss on HBR No 4 and elected to bat.

HSOB made 177-5, then restricted GBHS to 123-8.

Openers Steve Whitaker (29) and Glen Udall (22) accumulated 55 at the top of the order, fifth man in Justin Kohere got to 31 at a run a ball and Simon Blaker, at No 6, made 34 not out from 36 balls.

GBHS seamer Raffaele Colucci took 2-36 off six overs while the accuracy and shape of much-improved left-arm orthodox spinner Jordyn Haley, 1-30 off six, was noted by the older team.

In the GBHS reply, opener Jack Holden made 18, his highest score at Senior B level.

Captain Patrick McInnes was impressive in his 43 from 40 balls, including a hook shot for six, a lofted straight drive for four and a memorable drop-and-run single - the true marker and lifeblood of batsmanship.

This was before medium-pacer Jeff Chambers bowled full at the stumps and hit the timber.

McInnes put on 40 with Y10 left-hander Pranash Senthooran (6) after two run-outs put them in bother early.

But from 53-5, they batted with urgency and intent. Haley, like his captain, hit his first six at senior club level in an unbeaten 10.

“Boys' High had a very good attitude in the field,” Moran said. “They were well-organised and tried at all times to keep the pressure on our strong batting line-up. They took some big wickets.”