Cricket: Grass or artificial, prem final looks hot

BRING IT ON: CHB skipper Angus Schaw (left) and Taradale counterpart Tim Gruitjers ready for today's premier men's limited-overs club cricket final in Napier. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

WITH the persistent drizzle throughout the week Nelson Park in Napier resembles a wet kitchen sponge.

But Hawke's Bay Cricket Association CEO Craig Findlay says there's no need to fret if the Property Brokers 50-over premier men's final is moved from the No 3 grass pitch to the artificial one in Marewa Park, Napier, this morning.

"We've played two [premier men's] club finals on artificial wickets before," says Findlay who is keeping his fingers crossed the Napier City Council will give a thumbs up to proceed before the 10.30am start between finalists Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay CC and United Travel Taradale CC.

The HBCA doesn't have big enough spreads of tarpaulin to keep the entire outfield covered but Findlay says even if they had put the covers on the block, the water would have seeped through, as had happened previously.

Either way, the final between the CHB and Taradale should be a humdinger after the former pipped past Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC in the semifinals and the latter upset the New Zealand Club Championship qualifiers to Auckland, the Complete Flooring Napier Technical Old Boys, last Saturday.

For the record, the teams have played four times but both of them have stamped their supremacy on their home turfs for a 2-2 outcome this summer.

Consequently today's final at a neutral venue suggests it could be anyone's victory to end the season in style, considering neither team have any silverware to show for this summer.

The losing Hawke Cup campaign in Napier last weekend had a significant part in the outcome of the semifinals and with Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative players returning will influence today's game.

The Colin Atkinson-coached CHB will welcome back captain Angus Schaw, wicketkeeper Scott Schaw, batsman Rupert Young and game-breaking spinner Giliam Christoffel Pretorius.

Seamer Ben Stoyanoff is the only one returning for Taradale whose coach Sean Davies is in England on bereavement leave.

Taradale captain/assistant coach Tim Gruijters says they relished having the services of test seamer Doug Bracewell, who was returning from injury before joining the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags in Hamilton for the Plunket Shield match from Tuesday.

"Dougie was awesome. He bowled and showed us what he can do with the bat but then everyone else chipped in with the bat," says Gruitjers who also ended up hosting the game after NTOB found themselves in limbo with the Hawke Cup match staged at Nelson Park, the province's premier cricketing venue.

However, the Dutchman says Stoyanoff will provide some impetus from what he had gleaned playing at the cup level.

"Ben brings pressure and leadership and he can hit sixes at the end and everyone gets on with him." Opening batsman Luke Kenworthy should provide the platform for scoring runs with Vance Morris "who likes being on the big stage".

Taradale professional Gruitjers says he and youngster Liam Galbraith will support the bowling attack with their spin.

"We're just kind of happy to be in the final so we'll give it our best shot."

Angus Schaw echoes that sentiment, saluting the fill-ins from the semifinal who did the job without the cup players but says they understand they will not play in today's final.

He feels Dominic Thompson, who missed out on the cup XI but carved up a century in the semifinal, will be a key player again with veteran James Mackie.

"Like Taradale, we haven't won anything this summer so it'll be nice to get our first piece of silverware," says the 24-year-old stock agent.

He emphasises batsman Rupert Young will definitely get a bowl with he and Pretorius spearheading the attack.

"We've come a long way under coach Atkinson," says Schaw.

BOTH TEAMS

CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY: James Mackie, George Larson, Hamish Lewis, Will Harker, Dominic Thompson, Charlie Robson, Ben Morrison, Giliam Christoffel Pretorious, Angus Schaw (c), Scott Schaw (wkt), Rupert Young.

Coach: Colin Atkinson.

TARADALE: Tim Gruitjers (c), Luke Kenworthy (wkt), Vance Morris, Josh Jones, Callum Hewetson, Mat Nelson, Steven Phillips, Liam Galbraith, Ben Stoyanoff, Corey Hamilton, Matt Lambert, Angus McKnight.

Coach: Sean Davies.