Cricket: Central Indians in top of the table clash

Central Indians batsman Stephen Nicholls has led from the front for his side this season. Photo / File

Two unbeaten teams in the 2018 Williams Cup title race square off at Blake Park todaywith the winner taking a big step toward booking a berth in the playoffs.

Carrus Mount Maunganui will host the Rotorua-based Bayleys Central Indians. The inter-city battle sees the two sides enter the contest with two victories from the opening two rounds of the Baywide competition and shared points from last weekend's rained out matches.

Mount Maunganui will be without three first-pick players who are required for representative duty against Hamilton. However, a real strength of the Mount club is the ability to seamlessly slot players into teams whenever required. Logan Carr and Nathan Byrnes are two good examples of Mount players who have moved between premier and reserve grade cricket with ease this season.

Stephen Nicholls leads the Central Indian side's batting with 239 runs, while long-time premier player Andrew Gibbs has 12 wickets and 106 runs in Baywide cricket this season.

Eves Realty Greerton, who also hold a share of the Williams Cup lead, will face a solid challenge at home when New World Te Puke pay a visit on Saturday. Greerton has a strong batting line-up with Lee Watkins, Tom Renouf, Pip Thickpenny and skipper Shane Wineti all capable of putting their home boundaries under attack.

Long-time Te Puke batsman Tai Bridgman-Raison, who holds the record of 12 premier centuries for his club, is a genuine match winner when he is on song with the willow.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College will be favoured to beat GM Painters Lake Taupo CC when they travel down the State Highway.

While the Lake Taupo XI is the first team from the region to play Williams Cup cricket for many years, during the 1960s and 1970s Taupo region teams dominated Baywide cricket, winning eight straight Williams Cup titles.

Baywide Cricket Draw

Eves Realty Greerton v New World Te Puke, Pemberton Park; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Bayleys Central Indians, Blake2; GM Painters Lake Taupo CC v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College, Owen Delaney Park; Element IMF Cadets the bye.

Points table

Central Indians 15, Mount Maunganui 15, Greerton 15, Te Puke 3, Cadets 3, Tauranga Boys College 3, Lake Taupo CC 3.

Williams Cup Honours Board 2018

Batting (Centuries) 103 – Joshua Bates (Element IMF Cadets) v Greerton
Bowling (Five wickets) 5/46 - James Boyd (Eves Realty Greerton) v Cadets