An impressive batting display from Rotorua's Central CC reserves has rocketed them into next weekend's pre-Christmas trophy semifinals in the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade.
Central, who batted first, won their third game in this season's competition after beating Taupo Schools 1st XI by six wickets at Smallbone Park on Saturday.
The home side set a target of 207/4 off 40 overs for the away side to chase with Central's David Hunt top scoring with 69 runs and Josh Lewis (49n/o) also impressing for his side.
Taupo Schools were then bowled out for 152 runs in the second innings with Central's Ejaz Khalid, Aaron Bennett and Brad Wiggins all taking three wickets each.
Central captain Paul Wyllie was pleased with his side's batting performance but said improvements need to be made with his side's bowling.
"I was very happy with how we did with the bat," he said. "This is the second week in a row we've racked up over 200 so the top batting order are certainly doing their job.
"But with the bowling we can smooth out some errors. I felt there were a few too many wides and at one stage I was worried Taupo may have chased down the target.
"They [Taupo] had a very strong third partnership but thankfully Aaron and Brad stepped in and the wickets started tumbling."
Central's win sees them finish fourth in the pre-Christmas competition - lining up an away semifinal against table-toppers GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl - who beat local side Eastern Pirates by 34 runs on Saturday.
"It's finished very tight at the top and we've got a very tough game next week," said Wyllie. "But I have full confidence. Our batting form is very sharp and if we just tighten up our bowling there's no reason why we can't get the win."
The other pre-Christmas semifinal sees third-placed Pirates travel away to face second-placed Taupo Old Boys 1st XI. The Old Boys beat BOP Indians by five wickets on Saturday, pushing the Rotorua side down into fifth.
In the BOPCA Baywide premier competition, local side Bayleys Central Indians' fell to their seventh loss in the Baywide Cup - losing by seven wickets away to Element IMF Cadets on Saturday.
Central Indians' Rohan Gosai, who bowled first, had early success with the ball, taking 3/45. But Cadets' Morton Freer (104n/o) and Donovan Deeble (151n/o) put on a big partnership - taking their team through to 286/3.
In the second innings the Rotorua visitors were bowled out for 90, with Cadets' Ben Christensen returning 3/26 and James Birchall, in his return to the Cadets ranks, taking two wickets.
The result saw Cadets regainthe lead in the Baywide competition from second-placed Carrus Mount Maunganui who were forced to concede a losing draw against Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College.
Rotorua/ Taupo senior reserve grade results:
Taupo Schools 1st XI 152/10 (S Martin 52, H Paavalst 26, E Khalid 3/12, B Wiggins 3/15) lost to Central CC Central Reserves 207/4 (D Hunt 69, J Lewis 49, J Love-Parata 2/43, G Bisal-Singh 1/18).
Eastern Pirates 134/10 (Jo Wiringi 56, Johnny Wiringi 21, S McSkimming 3/12, S Davies 3/30) lost to GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl 168/10 (S McSkimming 40, H Darlington 25, M Smale 1/27, A Porter 1/32).
BOP Indians 102/10 (M Kumar 18, C Corbett 4/33, J Muldrock 3/16) lost to Taupo Old Boys 1 161/5 (S Dufty 65, C Jackson 59, G Singh 1/18, H Singh 1/25).
Chance Cars Geyser City 131/5 lost to Taupo Old Boys 2 133/7.
Table: 1. GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 2nd Xl 2. Taupo Old Boys 1 3. Eastern Pirates 4. Central CC Central Reserves 5. BOP Indians 6. Taupo Old Boys 2 7. Taupo Schools 1st XI 8. Chance Cars Geyser City.
BOPCA Baywide premier competition results
Baywide Cup:
Element IMF Cadets 286/3 (Donovan Deeble 151n/o, Morton Freer 104n/o; Himesh Gosai 3/48) defeated Bayleys Central Indians 90/10 (Ben Sandford 27; Ben Christensen 3/26, James Birchall 2/21).
New World Te Puke 212/7 (Tai Bridgman 55, Gareth Wallace 35, Alex Gooding 34; James Boyd 3/37, Lee Wallace 2/32) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 214/6 (Cam Neal 94no, Josh Ormrod 31; Keaton Taylor 2/18).
Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 185 (Tim Clarke 39, Marcel Collett 34, Iman Singh 27; Peter Drysdale 3/27, Dale Swan 2/37) winning draw from Carrus Mount Maunganui 183/6 (P Drysdale 105no, Ben Musgrave 26, Matt Golding 21; Sean Wakelin 3/26, Craig Baldry 2/49).
Points table: Element IMF Cadets 141, Carrus Mount Maunganui 133, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 121, Eves Realty Greerton 105, New World Te Puke 93, Bayleys Central Indians 17.