Cricket: Pressure on Pirates top order

Johnny Wiringi (batting) and the Eastern Pirates will take on Taupo Old Boys this weekend at Smallbone Park. Photo / Ben Fraser

Fifteen wins for Eastern in a row as final looms

Rotorua Cricket club Eastern Pirates will look to claim their second piece of silverware this year when they take on Taupo Old Boys at Smallbone Park.

The final of the pre-Christmas, 40-over competition will be played tomorrow at Smallbone at 1pm.

It is the first of three competitions played during the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade season.

At the end of last season, in March, Eastern Pirates won their first bit of silverware since the club re-surfaced in 2013.

Eastern Pirates have since picked up where they left off at the end of last season, extending their impressive record in 40-over matches.

"We have not lost a [40-over] game in 15 games," Pirates captain Johnny Wiringi said.

"We have been playing some really good cricket."

Their top order had been batting well this year but would need to play well again to beat Old Boys, who are also undefeated this season.

"It all depends on our top five, all of our top five have scored 50s this season," he said.

"And we have a good couple of Sri Lankan bowlers that do well for us as well."

He said they had a great culture in the side at the moment which was helping them get the results.

"We have a really good brotherhood within the team. And Rob Harvey from Dawson Insurance has helped us out a lot, sponsoring us with all ourplaying shirts and stuff.

"That has taken a lot of strain off the club," he said.

Eastern Pirates and Taupo Old Boys had their match rained out earlier this season.