Cricket: Premiers hunting for first win

Central will host Greerton tomorrow at Ray Boord Park. Central batsman Vaughan Blanchard posted 75 not out last weekend. Photo / Andrew Warner

Both of Rotorua's premier cricket teams will play at home this weekend as they look to register their first win of the season.

Central Cricket Club and the Bay of Plenty Indians both lost last weekend during their opening matches in the Baywide Cup.

Central went down to Carrus Mount Maunganui while the Indians also lost away to Tauranga Boys' College.

Tomorrow, Central will host a tough Greerton side while the Indians will play defending Baywide Cup champions Mount Maunganui, with both games scheduled at Ray Boord Park.

It will be a tough match for the Indians, who only managed 122 runs all-out last weekend.

However, if Northern Knights representative Bharat Popli takes the pitch for the Indians, he could prove to be a thorn in the side of the Mount Maunganui bowlers. Mehul Chhagan was also dangerous for the Indians last weekend, taking four wickets for 24 runs.

Rotorua Central will be fired up to register their first win of the season as well, when they play top-of-the-table Greerton tomorrow. The Rotorua club has recruited well in the off-season with English player/coach Tahir Afridi impressing in his first run on New Zealand grass.

He smashed a quick-fire 53 runs off 48 balls last weekend, which included three sixes. Vaughan Blanchard posted 75 not out against the strong Mount Maunganui bowling attack.

In the other matches, Te Puke host Cadets and Whakatane hit the road to play Tauranga Boys' College.