Cricket: Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade semi-finalists found

Chris Nairn took five wickets for Geyser Western Heights High School Old Boys at the weekend. Photo / File

After an action-packed round robin, the Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade semi-finalists have been found.

Going into the final weekend of round-robin play, Bay of Plenty Indians had the bye and were cemented in first place while five other teams were on equal points, setting up several winner-takes-all scenarios.

Geyser WHHS booked a home semi-final with a five-wicket win over Taupo Old Boys 2. Taupo batted first and were rolled for just 64 runs. Geyser bowler Chris Nairn was the standout, taking five wickets for 22 runs, while Ken McIlroy and Josh Simpson took two each. The best of the Taupo batsmen was Carl Barker, with 15 not out.

Geyser chased down the total for the loss of five wickets, Matt Mitchell top scored with 19 and Taupo bowler Dave Arthurs took two wickets for 18 runs.

Lake Taupo will meet Geyser WHHS in the semi-final after winning a high-scoring game against Central.

Central batted first and scored 204/8 off their 40 overs. Nathan Hall top scored with 93 and Ben Sandford chipped in with 36. The best of the Lake Taupo bowlers was Abhi Gupta (2/29).

Lake Taupo were cruising early on in the chase, but were on the back foot when Ben Fraser came on for his second spell and took four wickets in two overs. They were able to hold on, though, for a three-wicket win and a spot in the final. Moko Rivers top scored with 91 and Gupta finished the job with 25 not out.

The other semi-finalist will be Taupo old Boys 1, who chased down Geyser City John Paul College Old Boys' score of 143 to knock them out of contention.

This weekend Bay of Plenty Indians will play Taupo old Boys 1 at Smallbone Park and Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys will play Lake Taupo at Ray Boord Park.