Central Indians batsman Ben Sandford is bowled out. Photo / Stephen Parker
Central Indians batsman Ben Sandford is bowled out. Photo / Stephen Parker
Bayleys Central Indians will aim to end a poor run of form when they travel to play New World Te Puke today.The Rotorua-based side sit firmly at the bottom of the Baywide Cup standings with their only win so far coming against newcomers GM Painters Lake Taupo CC.
Home townadvantage should give Te Puke a good opportunity to cement their top four place on the standings, although Central Indians have plenty of young talent in their ranks and an upset at the Te Puke Domain would be no great surprise.
Element IMF Cadets will look to increase their lead at the top of the standings when they travel down the highway to play Lake Taupo at Owen Delaney Park in Taupo.
Last weekend Joe Carter produced a batting masterclass for Cadets against Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College. The top order batsman blasted an unbeaten 137 off just 106 balls in an innings that included 16 boundaries. Carter, who will play for Bay of Plenty in the annual one-day tournament that kicks off the next day in Taupo, is likely to get a good sighter of the Taupo pitch conditions today.Lake Taupo have made a useful start to the Baywide Cup, after earning promotion to the Baywide premier ranks this season. Roger Urbahn, who captains the side, leads from the front, with his 37 not out last weekend a standout in his side's mediocre batting performance.
Meanwhile, defending Baywide Cup titleholders Carrus Mount Maunganui play Tauranga Boys' College at Nicholson Field. Veteran all-rounder Nick Smith sits in a prominent position on both the Baywide Cup batting and bowling stakes. He is always capable of posting a score then backing up with some wickets.
Tauranga Boys' bowlers Rhys Mischewski and Craig Baldry have had successful season starts and could trouble the visitors' batting attack. Marcel Collett has a century to his name in the Baywide Cup and looks to be a rising star of the future.
BOPCA Baywide Cup Round Four Draw
New World Te Puke v Bayleys Central Indians, Te Puke Domain; GM Painters Lake Taupo CC v Element IMF Cadets, Owen Delaney Park; Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Nicholson Field; Eves Realty Greerton the bye.
