Three trophies on the line for H-K rivals
Paraparaumu Cricket Club and Levin Old Boys are going to be sick of the sight of each other.
The clubs face off for three different trophies in the next two weeks, starting with the senior and seconds one-day finals on Saturday.
The senior sides also play the two-day final the following weekend - the two sides are chosen based on cumulative performances across the one-day grades.
Paraparaumu senior A captain Nigel Harvey said his side was ‘‘pretty stoked’’ with their efforts.
‘‘It’s a little better than what we possibly thought, but it’s very exciting.’’
His team had found a way to win in tough situations this season, and wanted to continue that at the business end.
’’I think it would be massive. We’ve made finals before but we’ve choked a few times. We don’t rely on any individuals. Everyone in the greater squad has contributed at some stage.’’
Paraparaumu started stocking their trophy cabinet last weekend, with a 26-run win over Wanganui United in the Coastal Challenge Cup final. They became the first H-K team to lift the inter-district trophy.
United had reduced Paraparaumu to 105-8, but a crucial 54-run partnership between Ramesh Subasinghe and Josh Bohmer took them to 159.
Bohmer was also instrumental with ball, taking 4/13 from 5.3 overs with his right-arm seamers as United were bowled out for 133 in the 48th over.
‘‘The boys showed a lot of ticker to get that out of the way,’’ Harvey said.
They reduced United to 24/4, but it was when Subasinghe broke the 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket that momentum swung Paraparaumu’s way.
LOB have also won a senior A trophy this season - they beat Weraroa in the T20 final.
They have history behind them. It will be LOB’s sixth consecutive senior A title if they win on Saturday.
They will hope for a repeat of last year’s final, when they beat Paraparaumu by six wickets. They also beat them in last season’s two-day final, by 10 wickets.
Senior A captain Stacey Kerehoma said they were going in as underdogs anyway.
‘‘There’s still a bit of belief in the team. I know Pram [Paraparaumu] are probably at their strongest since 2010.’’
Their finals experience would be an important factor, he said.
The senior A and two-day finals are at Kenakena Park, and the seconds final is at Donnelly Park.