“What was most pleasing was that our five debutants — Todd Garner, William Budd, Tom Spencer, Anthony Boyder and Graham Sharp — all contributed to a strong team performance that we’re very proud of.
“Our bowling and fielding execution was top class, with excellent catching.
“Having a young left-arm seamer, Keegan Jooste (four wickets for 12 runs from 4.4 overs) — our Most Valuable Player on Saturday — works well for our makeup.
“His passion and competitiveness allows us to back his skills with the new ball, and he showed that he can bowl some real quality.
“I feel I respected the bowling and got value for good shots,” Castle said of his knock. “The ball moved a little bit off the wicket but came on nicely. Richie Tikaroa (of Recreational Services) has worked hard to get the pitches into shape, so once I was in, it was about batting as long as possible.
“It was a shame to miss out on a century but a good start to the year.”
Horouta captain wicket-keeper David Situ won the toss on Ground 3, opted to bowl and HSOB posted 212-9.
At the top of the order, Castle and Sharp (17) parted with the total at 40. Castle later put on 55 with Budd (18) for the fourth wicket.
Swing bowlers Gautam Sareen (2-18 from 3 overs) and Dulakshana Sandith, Horouta MVP and off-spinner Harmanpreet Singh and middle-order batsman Paulin Kanabar all debuted for Te Waka in Round 1.
Kanabar was caught by Carl Shaw at mid-on off medium-pacer Boyder (2-22 from 5) for 6, having come in at No.5.
Singh took 2-31 off eight overs, including the wicket of Castle (caught and bowled).
Situ held a top catch to dismiss Sharp off Sandith (1-50 from 8).
Garner, Spencer and Nicholas Armour raised the bar for fielding by two notches in the second dig, with two catches apiece.
Shaw combined with ‘keeper Sharp to run out Cheetam Sharma, Horouta’s sixth man in, for 12.
Te Waka’s chase closed with the score at 56 in 19.4 overs.
“This game was a good run for our boys,” said Situ. “We got a gauge on the new guys in the team and we finished the first innings well, but we’re disappointed with our batting. Our shot selection was poor.”
OBR skipper Nick Greeks’ decision to bowl on Ground 1 after winning the toss bore fruit.
His bowlers fired against a new-look GBHS side.
Nathan Trowell, bowling inswing at second change, took 3-4 in four overs.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Greeks snared 2-7 off six overs.
Greek, Trowell and spearhead Cohen Loffler (1-6 from three overs) sent down two attacking maidens apiece.
OBR gloveman Josh Adams, with four catches and two stumpings, turned in a performance first-up that will take some topping for the rest of the season.
GBHS were bowled out for 86 in 29.3 overs. Co-captain Bekko Page, a busy and positive cricketer, led their effort with 21 off 41 balls at No.6.
Left-handed opener Jarrod Ormiston (10) and eighth man in Zyden Worsnop (10 not out) were the only other batsmen to score in double figures.
OBR left-handers Te-Reimana Gray (28 including four boundaries) and Sean Henry (45 including six fours in an MVP performance for the side) carried their bats against a Boys’ High pace attack featuring brothers Johnathan and David Gray, Nathaniel Fearnley and Page.
“The game wasn’t very eventful on our side, though Johny Gray (2 in 25 balls from No.7) and I spent valuable time in the middle,” GBHS MVP Page said:
“Our fielding was good. It’s just that our team total wasn’t defendable.”
Page was complimentary of the solid job done by Northern Districts panel official and Poverty Bay director of umpiring Jason Trowill, as regards good, clear communication around playing conditions, bowling restrictions and breaks in play.
