Cricket: Geyser City push for T20 repeat

RESERVE GRADE: Nish Dogra, of Geyser, appeals against Central during their T20 match in Taupo. Photograph by Ben Fraser

Geyser City Cricket Club are back to winning ways as they look to defend their titles in the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade.

Two of the heavyweights of the reserve grade, Geyser and Taupo Wanderers, were in good form on Saturday during the opening two rounds of the T20 competition.

They both picked up two victories in the smash and bash competition at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.

Geyser captain Matt Collier said that while his team's main focus at the moment was the post-Christmas 40-over competition, the T20 victories had done a lot for their confidence.

They had lost their first game of the year to Taupo Old Boys a week earlier in the 40-over competition and were searching for form.

"Our focus is definitely on the 40-over competition but we needed some results and winning those two games has put us on the front foot again."

Geyser City achieved a rare treble in the Rotorua/Taupo reserve grade last season - winning all three trophies up for grabs including the T20 title, pre-Christmas competition, and post-Christmas competition.

Collier said they were now in a great position to defend their T20 title. The third round and finals of the T20 competition will be played on Saturday, February 7, in Rotorua.

Collier said they would face tough decisions in terms of selection for the rest of the season, after some of the younger players stepped up on Saturday.

He said the Geyser 1 side and Geyser Development team combined for the T20 competition, giving younger players a chance to impress.

Younger players such as Brad Munro and Dilan Nanayakkara had played excellent cricket and put their hands for the Geyser 1 side: "It has given us a lot of headaches on who to pick in the sides, which is a really good headache to have."