ICC Cup Cricket: Bay's cup recruits on a roll

Dom Ngapera (left) and Tim Whitta perform at McLean Park yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Five locals are doing more than most to drum up support for Cricket World Cup matches being played on Napier's McLean Park.

Wellington-based Strike Percussion have been hired to help entertain the crowds at all the New Zealand fixtures and, as part of that arrangement, the group are also inviting talented local musicians to join them in playing at each of the tournament's venues.

A member of the professional group before taking up his position as programme co-ordinator of EIT's Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance, Tom Pierard was a standout choice for the three internationals scheduled for Hawke's Bay.

Knowing the local music scene as well as he does, he was also well-placed to recommend some good drummers.

Two are graduates of ideaschool's one-year certificate programme, Dom Ngapera and last year's top student Brad Gamble. Strike Percussion also picked up on his suggestions for two further Napier drummers " Malcom Blake and Chris Smith, graduates of EIT's Bachelor of Computing Systems.

In addition to yesterday's match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the drummers will be back helping to entertain cricket fans at the next two Hawke's Bay fixtures " New Zealand versus Afghanistan on Sunday and the West Indies v UAE on the following Sunday, March 15.

Mr Pierard says the opportunity to perform at the Cricket World Cup was great experience and exposure for local musicians.

"It's exciting playing before a capacity crowd of 21,000 people all keyed up to watch an international match," he said.