CRICKET: Pryor inspires Havelock to shock win

HAMISH BIDWELL
In normal circumstances, it would be Napier Old Boys' Marist's outright win over Taradale, with just 10 balls to spare, that would claim the lion's share of the column inches. But not this time.
Two good teams, an excellent game of cricket and a grandstand finish would usually guarantee you a nice big match report. Only that it was a result that paled into insignificance as the other scores filtered through.
For starters, a Ryan Pryor-inspired Best United Travel Havelock North got up for a memorable eight-run win over Property Brokers Napier Technical Old Boys and then there was the big one: Harvey's Cornwall, rolled for 97, chasing 231 to beat Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay.
Havelock have been in useful form this season and went into the final day of Saturday's first two-day match of the season with their noses in front. But Central's win? Not even they saw it coming.
"We were talking about it in the dressing room after the game and everyone was pretty sure that we've never had an outright win over Cornwall before." said star CHB allrounder Robbie Schaw.
Having conceded a first innings lead of 29, solid contributions across the board in their second innings, enabled CHB to set Cornwall 231 in 38 overs.
"It was just over six-an-over, but for us to have gotten runs earlier in the day, we didn't think the wicket was too bad for batting," continued Schaw.
"They started off chasing it and then, when they got to about five down, they shut up shop. But the boys just bowled really well and we kept knocking them over.
"We knew we had a good bowling attack, but our problem has been that we just haven't scored any runs this season. So this is a huge confidence booster for the boys and they can see what's possible when we put a score on the board."
For Havelock, the change has already come, and for captain Rick Breakwell, Saturday's narrow win was just a continuation of the remarkable momentum his team has started to generate this season.
"The boys were all saying after the game, that we're now pretty confident that we can come through and win those close ones," said Breakwell.
"In the past we might have got nervous, but now the boys lap the pressure up and it seems to bring the best out in them."
Chasing 185 to win, Tech looked dead and buried at 88 for seven, but an 88-run partnership between Scott Findlay and Chris Taylor dragged them toward the brink of an unlikely victory of their own.
"I was starting to run out of things to try and, thank God, Zane (Hinton) got Scott Findlay out lbw. That's when things changed again and then Ryan Pryor was able to come back on and wrap things up," said Breakwell.
Minus the inspirational Peter Connell this season, there were fears that Havelock's attack might become cannon-fodder. Instead, Breakwell says his bowlers have thrived on the extra responsibility.
Another bowler blossoming this summer is NOBM's Kurt Richards. Without Andrew Niblett and Campbell Furlong, someone had to stand up if they were to have any chance of beating Taradale and the New Zealand under-19 squad member was that man.
"I know it sounds corny, but I thought Kurt Richards really came of age in this match," said NOBM skipper Dave Bovey, after Richards' five for 46 saw Taradale dismissed for 251 chasing 298.
"I definitely think he's added a couple of yards of pace this season and I think that performance will probably guarantee him a spot in the Hawke's Bay team now."