Central Indians seeking strong start at the crease

AT THE CREASE: Central Indians aim for a strong batting performance on Saturday despite Northern Knights batsman Bharat Popli (pictured) unavailable for selection. PHOTO/FILE.

Cricket

Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians opening batmen must put in a "confidence boosting" performance when they take on the current Baywide champions of champions, according to co-captain Shonit Chandra.

Central Indians take on Element IMF Cadets in their first home game of the season at Smallbone Park tomorrow.

Chandra is confident his side will compete against their second-placed opposition but warned an improved batting performance was vital - especially with big hitter and Northern Knights batsman Bharat Popli unavailable for selection.

Ajay Kumar is replacing Popli after hitting an impressive 134 in a warm-up game this week whilst Magan Vashisht and Ben Sandford are likely to open the batting for Central Indians.

"The whole squad is very confident and ready to take on a top team," he said.

"For us it would really help if we could bat first and it is very important that our opening batsmen give us confidence.

"If we start well in the batting order it has a knock-on effect for everyone and we want to be racking up a good score - around the 200-220 mark.

"It won't be easy. Cadets have a very strong bowling line-up but if we put pressure on them hopefully they will crumble."

Central Indians have had a mixed start to their BOPCA Baywide premier campaign - losing their opening game and sharing the points in their last fixture after the match was abandoned in the second innings because of bad weather.

Cadets comfortably beat bottom-of-the-table Eves Realty Greerton in their first game and shared the points after last weekend's fixture was called off.

"We were very disappointed last week because we weren't able to build up momentum but there have been very positives signs so far this season," Chandra said.

"There is a good atmosphere in the camp and we just need to show the other teams what we can do now."

Meanwhile current Baywide Cup competition leaders Carrus Mount Maunganui face equal second-placed Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College away.

Ones to watch will be Tauranga Boys' new first XI recruits - Iman Singh and Rhys Mischewski. Both are bowling well with Singh posting best figures of 3/31.

Defending Baywide Cup titleholders Eves Realty Greerton have some work to do to get back into contention to defend the Baywide first round prize, after losing their first two games of the new season.

On Saturday they have home track advantage at Pemberton Park against New World Te Puke - who won the Baywide big prize of the Williams Cup in late March.

BOPCA Baywide premier competition fixtures

Baywide Cup
Saturday, 12pm start:

Bayleys Central Indians v Element IMF Cadets, Smallbone Park, Rotorua.
Eves Realty Greerton v New World Te Puke, Pemberton Park, Tauranga.
Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Blake Park 3, Tauranga.

Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 42, Element IMF Cadets 34, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 34, New World Te Puke 22, Bayleys Central Indians 14, Eves Realty Greerton 6.