Campion second-change seamer Gagandeep Singh and gloveman-cum-offspinner Taye McGuinness both took 2-33 from five overs and toiled manfully on a scorcher.
Boys’ High left-arm spearhead Caleb Taewa conceded only 12 runs in six overs — he was the most dangerous and accurate bowler in the match — but Swann and Starck were vigilant in defence.
The Campion openers’ watchfulness and ability to punish the loose delivery, short stuff in particular, decided the outcome of the match. Boys’ High dropped six catches in the field - four of them simple high catches. Swann struck two sixes and seven fours. Against off-spinner Ted Gillies (1-43 from six overs) he demonstrated his game-sense, twice clearing the fielder at long-on, the shortest boundary.
He and Starck seemed certain to carry their bats, and would have been the first opening pair from Campion to do so since the 1990s, until Gillies bowled the skipper with the score at 154. Rhys Grogan then fell for nought second ball, caught by Taewa at mid-on off the bowling of left-armer Jack Holden (1-27 from four overs). After a tough first over, Holden’s second spell (1-16) was a great improvement. Taye McGuinness (10no), the fourth man to bat, drove offie Bjorn Botma down the ground for two and the win.
Victorious captain Swann, who — like Steve Whitaker — was his team’s MVP (most valuable player), said: “All of our bowlers bowled well. Chasing, Connor and I just batted time and looked for the ball to score off.”
Simon Wilson and Isaac Thomas bat very differently.
But both Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps opener and gloveman Wilson and ball-bruising first drop Thomas were in match-winning form at the weekend.
Wilson was all touch and placement for 51 from No.1 before retiring to give his teammates a batting opportunity, and Thomas hammered a six and 11 fours on his way to 65no as the Caps beat Breakers Horouta Te Waka by nine wickets on the No.1 wicket.
Ngatapa captain and offspinner Charles Morrison said: “It was a good result, given that we had only nine players. Simon and Isaac were dominant with the bat, and jointly took out the MVP award for us, but James Craig, who came in at No.4 for Horouta, made runs as well and was our choice as their MVP.”
The hard-working, committed Craig’s knock of 33 off 43 balls was the innings of greatest consequence for a 10-man Te Waka crew that were all out for 125 in 29.4 overs. Their skipper and gloveman Riley Horsfield had won the toss and opted to bat.
Ollie Jonasen (2-24), George Whitehead (2-12) and Morrison (2-39) each bowled four overs. Jonasen swung the game Ngatapa’s way after Horouta got off to a rip-roaring start — they were 25-0 — but Jonasen took two wickets for one run in the fourth over.
Whitehead then had opener Tony Bucheler (12) caught on the pull to Jonasen at square leg, and despite medium-pacer Jacque Davis bowling an 18-ball over that cost 17 runs in the 14th, Ngatapa dismissed Te Waka for 125 with two balls remaining.
Then came Wilson, who with the loss of Davis (2) and the score at 10 was joined by Thomas. That pair then put on 87 for the second wicket. Left-arm orthodox spinner Clarence Campbell opened the bowling, went around the wicket and drew Wilson out to drive a good delivery through cover for two first ball. Wilson was later complimentary about Horouta stalwart Campbell’s excellent line and length.
Hope Cup, Senior B Grade 30-over championship, Round 9 —
Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps 129-1 in 15.2 overs (Isaac Thomas 65 not out, Simon Wilson 51 retired) beat Breakers Horouta Te Waka 125-9 in 19.4 overs (James Craig 33; George Whitehead 2-2, Ollie Jonasen 2-24, Charles Morrison 2-39) by nine wickets.
Campion College 176-2 (Connor Starck 68no, Hamish Swann 63) beat Gisborne Boys’ High School (2) 174-7 (Steve Whitaker 92no, Conrad Parkes 24; Taye McGuinness 2-33, Gagandeep Singh 2-33) by eight wickets.
