Cricket: Repeat of final as pool play heats up

BOP Indians senior reserve cricketers in celebration mood last season. Photo/File.

Another tantalising match up is on offer in the final round of pool play of the Rotorua Taupo senior reserve cricket competition.

The crunch game of the round will be BOP Indians fronting up against defending champions Taupo Wanderers at Boord Park tomorrow in a re-run of last year's senior reserve grade final.

BOP Indians senior reserve manager Shonit Chandra said the home side was well prepared for the fifth round clash and eager to avoid another defeat against their Taupo neighbours.

"We have a very well balanced team with eight all-rounders and two excellent bowlers in Ras Dillan, our captain, and Niv Patel," Chandra said.

In addition, middle order batsmen Lokesh Kumar and Neeraj Kumar have both been in good form with a top scores of 84 and 54 respectively in previous rounds, he said.

Dillan and Neeraj Kumar also lead the bowling attack for BOP Indians.

"These players hit the ball hard and like to score runs.

"We are only looking for a win."

The winner of the game will play the first-placed team from the other pool, which may be decided from the outcome between Central and Taupo Old Boys at Taupo's Owen Delany Park.

Central manager Paddy Hayes said the side was confident of coming away with a win.

"We've got some good young fellas in Juan Nieuwoudt, FG Gous and Nick Spedding who have been the finds of the season so far," Hayes said.

"Juan bowls well, and FG featured in an opening stand of 72 against Eastern Pirates last week.

"Both teenagers show good technique and discipline for young cricketers."

Against Pirates, Spedding was the best of the bowlers with four wickets while Hamish Harding proved again to be Central's middle order batting rock with an unbeaten stand.

Both will be asked to perform to high standards again tomorrow, Hayes said.

In other games Geyser 1 will play Geyser 2 in the crossover bye "friendly" at Boord Park, EP host Taupo Colleges at home, while Taupo Indians have defaulted to John Paul College.

Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve cricket draw:

(Saturday, November 30)

Round Five: Central vs Taupo Old Boys, Owen Delany 1; Wanderers vs BOP Indians, Boord 3; Taupo Indian's vs JPC, FORFEITED; Taupo College's vs EP, Neil Hunt Pk; Geyser 2 bye; CROSSOVER v Geyser 1 bye, Boord 2.

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