Cricket: Geyser City post hefty opening loss in first match of WBOPCA Championship campaign

Geyser City player Leon McKnight in action for his side. PHOTO/ FILE

Rotorua's Geyser City first XI have started their WBOPCA Championship campaign on a losing note.

Geyser City batted first and suffered a hefty eight-wicket loss, in Pool One of the competition, against an impressive Lake Taupo CC side, who recorded their 12th straight win this season on Saturday.

The local team were removed for 126 in the first innings with Lake Taupo's Habib Malik taking three wickets for 25 runs.

The championship favourites then coasted to victory in the second innings with Blaine Inch in good form - hitting an unbeaten 54 while Will Parry reached 45 before being dismissed.

Meanwhile, in Pool One, Tauranga Boys College defeated Katikati by 76 runs at home on Saturday. And Sikh Sports won the battle between the two Indians sides when they chased down a good-sized R&A Sangha total of 230 to win by three wickets.

Elsewhere in Pool Two top seeds Greerton made a solid start to their title chase, beating Aquinas College by eight wickets at Pemberton Park.

In the first innings Aquinas were bowled out for 142 - Louis Robinson top-scoring with 35 runs while Danny Pokai took three wickets for Greerton.

Greerton's Ben Lind led the charge to victory in the second innings with 89 not out, and Danny Pokai also impressed hitting 42.

Whakatane United showed that they are genuine contenders after defeating Mount Maunganui by 20 runs. The Eastern Bay side were removed for 203 before bowling their opponents out for 183.

And Te Puke proved too strong for Cadets after they posted 154 runs then removed the Tauranga Domain-based side for just 72 runs.

WBOPCA Western Bay of Plenty reserve grade results:

Pool One:

Geyser 126 (Habib Malik 3/25) lost to Lake Taupo 127/2 (Blaine Inch 54no, Will Perry 45).

Tauranga Boys College 213/9 (Neil Howard 71, Wiremu Leef 36, Blake Gilroy 4/45) defeated Katikati 137 (Matt Harrison 61, Finn Sears 3/21).

R&A Sangha 230 (Jet Sehgal 39, GS Mahal 30) lost to Sikh Sports 233/7 (JP Singh 100no, Gurman Singh 33, GS Mahal 3/51).

Pool Two:

Aquinas College 142 (Louis Robinson 35, Danny Pokai 3/30) lost to Greerton 143/2 (Ben Lind 89no, Danny Pokai 42).

Whakatane United 203 (Pip Thickpenny 59, Alex Yates 31, Nathan Byrnes 3/36) defeated Mount Maunganui 183 (Logan Carr 71 retired, Hamish Wilde 3/32, Chris Bartram 3/31).

Te Puke 154 (Vaughan Wilson 85no, Cameron Dunn 3/24) defeated Cadets 72 (Supreet Singh 4/9, Lance Staiger 3/36).

Points table (provisional):

Pool One: Lake Taupo CC 20, Tauranga Boys College 20, Sikh Sports 20, R&A Sangha 8, Katikati 6, Geyser City 3.

Pool Two: Greerton 20, Whakatane United 20, Te Puke 20, Mount Maunganui 9, Cadets 5, Aquinas College 4.