Cricket: Running between wickets pedestrian

Napier Tech opening batsman Josh Paerau plays a shot before losing his wicket, as CHB fielder Rupert Young anticipates a catch. Photo / Paul Taylor

You can have a talented batting order but that means nothing if the running between the wickets is pedestrian.

Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay found that out the hard way when Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys thumped them by six wickets at Nelson Park, Napier, on Saturday.

"The key thing about the game was that they kept running themselves out so it was quite bizarre," said NTOB coach Dale Smidt yesterday after CHB gifted them three wickets after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat for a sub-par 91 all out in 32 overs of the Property Brokers one-day HBCA premier men's competition.

"It was nothing brilliant from our guys but poor communication from them. A guy was either stranded in the middle or both batsmen were at the same end so they must have been very disappointed," Smidt said after NTOB comfortably overhauled the target with 4-92 from 22.2 overs.

CHB co-coach Mike Lewis was disappointed, saying: "We were our own worst enemies. Tech played brilliantly and we just weren't good enough so no excuses from us at the end of the day."

It was salt in the wound for CHB because the match doubled up as a New Zealand Club Nationals Championship regional qualifying match.

NTOB, with The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist who beat Bayleys Real Estate Havelock North CC by 36 runs on an adjacent pitch, will find out today whether they play Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC or United Travel Taradale CC when the names of the sides are drawn from the hat after they had byes.

Saturday's win was particularly pleasing for Smidt because it was the best side he had put out this summer with the return of Bronson Meehan, Stevie Smidt and Jayden Lennox.

NOBM posted 220 all out in 50 overs on the platform of Mathew Sinclair (61 runs), captain Jesse Singh (54) and Harry Ghodke (30) before stifling the villagers to 187-9 in 41.3 overs to advance to the next round of NZ club champs qualifiers.

At Taradale Park, the hosts predictably flogged a youthful Cornwall by seven wickets.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat with Michael Taiaroa scoring 72 runs off 98 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, for an achieveable 158 all out in 44.1 overs.

Taradale assistant coach/player Tim Gruitjers claimed three wickets from 10 overs, including five maidens and leaking only seven runs.

In reply, the top three batsmen of Josh Jones (34 runs), Vance Morris (37) and Callum Hewetson (68) took the guess work out of the game in 28.1 overs despite falling on their bats.

"They put on 100 for the second wicket," said Taradale coach Sean Davies, acknowledging that's what was expected of any top-order batsmen although mindful of Cornwall's lack of experience.

Asked who Taradale would like to face in the national club qualifiers next, Davies said their performance against NTOB wasn't the best.

"At some stage you have to play everyone but everyone would want to face Old Boys first, who are a good side too."