Cricket: NTOB earn tilt at NZ crown

Jurgen Andersen.

The club knows what it is like to compete and win at a national level but this time it's special for the Napier Technical Old Boys premier men's cricket team.

"In those days when Hawke's Bay won the Chapple Cup [CD one-day comp] the club winners entered automatically but it's tougher now," said the Complete Floorings-sponsored team coach, Dale Smidt, after his men qualified for the annual National Knockout Club Championship in Auckland in early April.

"You now have to win six knockout games on the trot so it's a lot more rewarding," Smidt said after NTOB beat Athletic College Old Boys Seniors (Nelson) by five wickets at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, yesterday to become the Central Districts qualifiers.

"You now have to front up and get it going or you're out so it's just like the FA Cup [football], isn't it?"

The Liam Rukuwai-captained side comfortably accounted for New Plymouth Marist United CC by seven wickets on Saturday in the four-team playoffs from the CD catchment area.

However, yesterday NTOB had some wobbles when CD Stag spinner Marty Kain, who had scored 48 runs in Athletics' 181 all out, took a couple of quick wickets after the opening batsmen departed cheaply.

Smidt's inclusion of veteran Craig Findlay paid off, as he steadied the innings with 43 not out after a measured partnership with Josh Paerau, who added 35.

Nevertheless, it was wildcard Jurgen Andersen at No7 who calmed his teammates' nerves with a don't-argue 51 not out, including four lusty sixes, to chase down the target with 6.3 overs to spare.

"We saw glimpses of it [seamer Andersen's batting prowess] but he had a good one today with some huge sixes on a ground that has big boundaries here," Smidt said.

NTOB have 13 victories on the trot and are now gunning for 14 this weekend in a bid to equal the record of the 2004 team.

The Texans play CHB at Nelson Park in a T20 affair.