Cricket: Leopard thriving in new opening role

Hawke's Bay spinner GC Pretorius eyes more damage during yesterday's Kirk Cup win over Poverty Bay. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay cricketer Christian Leopard attributes a new role and some extensive winter training with the Central Districts Stags for his purple patch at representative level.

"I've taken on a new role with opening the batting and I did a lot of training with the Stags during the winter and it's finally starting to pay off," Leopard said after Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay retained the Kirk Cup with a 10-wicket victory over Poverty Bay at Napier's Nelson Park yesterday.

A former New Zealand under-19 rep, Leopard, 20, scored 88 not out as the hosts posted 154 without loss after 15.3 overs in reply to toss winners Poverty Bay's 148 all out on what Hawke's Bay coach Colin Schaw described as "a pretty flat deck".

Leopard's tally included 10 fours and three sixes. On Saturday Leopard scored 60 runs for his Napier Technical club against Havelock North. At Labour Weekend he notched 58 runs in the Bay's first T20 win against Bay of Plenty and 39 in the second, and a week earlier 32 runs in the Chapple Cup final against Manawatu.

"I used to bat at five, six or seven for the Bay and bowl overs. Now I just open I've got the freedom to play my shots at the top of the order and play positively as I focus on playing for time.

"It's important I try as much as possible for Stags selection. I'm among at least three or four players waiting for an opportunity if players get injured. I just have to keep chipping away and do my job so I'm ready if that opportunity comes."

Leopard pointed out a good culture has contributed to Hawke's Bay's unbeaten run to date this season.

"We all enjoy each other's company and try to keep a high standard. We all get along which is easy when you are winning. But it's important we keep our feet on the ground and take things one game at a time as we work towards a Hawke Cup challenge," Leopard added, referring to the symbol of New Zealand inter-districts supremacy.

Coach Schaw, who is predicting Leopard will gain Central Districts A selection before the end of the summer, said the other highlight of the hosts' batting display was Havelock North opener James Field's 50 not out in his first outing of the season for Hawke's Bay after returning from tertiary studies in Waikato.

Field grew in confidence as the innings progressed and his tally included five fours and two sixes.

Poverty Bay scored 55 runs before they lost their first wicket and became victims of what Schaw described as some exceptional catching in the outfield and in the slips. Bowling for the winners, Taradale seamer Ben Stoyanoff took one for 29 off eight overs and Leopard one for 29 off eight, while Central Hawke's Bay spinners Angus Schaw and GC Pretorius had respective figures of 3 for 22 off 10 and 2 for 49 off 10.

Last week Hawke's Bay officials pointed out the match was Schaw's 50th for the team but then discovered it was his 49th as the 50-over game scheduled to be played against Bay of Plenty at Labour Weekend was washed out.

Terry Hayes with 39 and Daniel Gibbs with 28 were the only Poverty Bay batsmen to show any resistance.

"I was pretty chuffed with our performance. But in saying that it would have been better to saw more than two batsmen in action before the start of our Furlong Cup campaign," Schaw said, referring to the Central Districts two-day competition which begins with a match against Wairarapa Bush in Masterton this weekend.

Hawke's Bay must retain the Furlong Cup to get crack at the Hawke Cup. Schaw will name his squad for the Masterton trip later today.