Cricket: Bay of Plenty Indians make it two from two

Bay of Plenty Indians batsman Sandeep Paul helps his team to victory over Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys at Boord Park on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Bay of Plenty Indians have enjoyed a perfect start to 2018, winning each of their first two games in the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade.

After a comfortable six-wicket win over Central in the first game of the post-Christmas 40-over competition, they defended a total of 190 runs to beat Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys on Saturday.

The key contributors to Bay of Plenty Indians' first innings total were Neeraj Kumar with 51 runs and Sandeep Paul with 34. Richie Downs was the best of the Geyser WHHS bowlers with four wickets for 26 runs.

The Geyser WHHS chase was led by Pete Walters (40) and Joe O'Donoghue (29), but they fell 16 runs short as they were bowled out for 174. Bay of Plenty Indians bowlers Shonit Chandra and Ankur Patel did the damage with the ball, both taking three wickets for 23 runs.

Meanwhile, Central have proven their Rotorua/Taupo reserve grade win over Geyser City John Paul College Old Boys in the pre-Christmas final was not a one-off.

The two sides squared up again on Saturday and Central took bragging rights with a 119-run win in what is blossoming into a healthy rivalry between the Rotorua-based sides.

Central batsmen Aaron Bennett (80) and Nathan Hall (68) were dominant with the bat, helping their side to a total of 256. The best of the Geyser JPC bowlers were Jono Collier (2/53) and Liam Kelly (1/43).

In reply Geyser JPC were all out for 137 runs, Tuwhakaiti Winsor was the top scorer with 57, while Richard Campbell chipped in with 23. Hall backed up his strong batting performance by taking three wickets for just 10 runs and captain Paul Wyllie also took three wickets, for 31 runs.

Lake Taupo came out on top in the local derby against Taupo Old Boys 2. Old Boys batted first and scored 192, Chris Jackson was the top scorer with 87 while Nathan McNeish took six wickets for 49 runs for Lake Taupo.

Lake Taupo successfully chased down the total, Darryn Wilkins top-scoring with 44 not out. Old Boys bowler Ramesh Loka took three wickets for 54 runs.

Taupo Old Boys 1 had the bye.