Green wicket causes havoc for Central Indians

Central Indians' Andrew Gibbs took four wickets in his side's defeat on the weekend. FILE/ PHOTO.

All is not well in the Bayleys Central Indians camp after a green wicket caused havoc among the side's batters sending the team to a fourth defeat in the BOPCA Baywide premier competition.

Central Indians batted first after losing the toss to Eves Realty Greerton at Pemberton Park, Tauranga in the Baywide Cup on Saturday.

The away side were bowled out for 85 after 25 overs by the defending Baywide Cup title holders - Central Indians' Ben Sandford had the highest score (19) with Greerton's Dan Spencer taking four wickets and medium pacer Murray Jarvis returning 3/20.

In the second innings Greerton chased down their target in a quick 19 overs with six wickets to spare. The home side's Cam Neal top scored with 23 and Dion McCall finished with 22 runs to his name.

Co-captain Andrew Gibbs, who took all of his side's four wickets, said losing the toss cost them dearly along with several dropped catches in the field.

"It was a very green wicket - the ball was lively and put us under pressure from the off," he said. "We just couldn't build solid and strong partnerships."

"We needed to have about 30-50 more runs on the board to compete in the second innings. We still had a chance but some early dropped catches at slip really affected us.

"Catches win matches and our fielding certainly needs work. Going forward we need to have confidence in ourselves and learn from this."

Meanwhile, intermittent showers in the top-of-the-table clash at the Tauranga Domain between second-placed Cadets and leaders Mount Maunganui ended in a draw.

Cadets were bowled out for 151, with the standout partnership between skipper Scott Steward (50) and Donovan Deeble (39) while the Mount's Luke Tatley grabbed three wickets.

Mount Maunganui's reply ended battling fading light - the visitors reached 142/5 when the mandatory finish time arrived. Individual second innings honours went to Blair McKenzie (49no) and Jason Luke (40retired) while Jamie Holden and Morton Freer took two wickets apiece for Cadets.

And the match at the Te Puke Domain between New World Te Puke and Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College also finished in a draw. Te Puke posted 176/6 with Tai Bridgman-Raison scoring 86.

Tauranga Boys' then reached 153 for the loss of eight wickets, when the umpires pulled stumps, with Ben Pomare top scoring with a gritty half century.

BOPCA Baywide premier competition

Baywide Cup results:

Bayleys Central Indians 85 (Dan Spencer 4/19, Murray Jarvis 3/20, Jared Tutty 2/24) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 89/4 (Cam Neal 23, Dion McCall 22; Andrew Gibbs 3/47).

Element IMF Cadets 151 (Scott Steward 50, Donovan Deeble 39; Luke Tatley 3/27, Nick Smith 2/17, Dan Hill 2/35) drew with Carrus Mount Maunganui 142/5 (Blair McKenzie 49, Jason Luke 40retired, Matt Golding 22; Jamie Holden 2/8, Morton Freer 2/35).

New World Te Puke 176/6 (Tai Bridgman-Raison 86, Dan Price 33, Josh Earle 21no; Rhys Mischewski 3/26, Sean Wakelin 2/52) drew with Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 153/8 (Ben Pomare 53).

Points table (Provisional): Carrus Mount Maunganui 96, Element IMF Cadets 96, Eves Realty Greerton 68, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 56, New World Te Puke 44, Bayleys Central Indians 14.