Aggression at crease key for Central Indians

CAPTAIN'S CRY: Central Indians' co-captain Andrew Gibbs has urged his players to show aggression on the crease. PHOTO/FILE.

Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians must be "aggressive" and "fearless" at the crease if they are to make headway in the second round of the BOPCA Baywide premier competition according to co-captain Andrew Gibbs.

It's been a difficult season so far for the local side - losing five of their six Baywide Cup matches but Gibbs said the side must use their disappointment as ammunition for their home clash against New World Te Puke tomorrow.

The game is set to be a close encounter with Te Puke just above Central Indians in the table and Gibbs insisted his players would "value their wickets" but have the confidence to play for the big shots.

"We need to go forward and attack. Throughout the week we have been encouraging the batsmen to play freely," he said.

"Of course players need to defend their wickets but I don't want to see them freeze and not take opportunities when they're on offer."

Gibbs' statement of intent comes after his side, last weekend, lost by just 10 runs to Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College.

Te Puke come into the game on a high after pulling off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday, when they handed Mount Maunganui their first defeat of the Baywide Cup title race.

"It was almost as if we were strangled in confidence against Tauranga," Gibbs said.

"That can't happen against Te Puke. They will want to continue their momentum so we have to put pressure on straight away.

"We'll be mixing up our line-up to make us more aggressive in the batters.

"I don't want to see players freeze at the wicket. Also we aren't a team that traditionally takes quick singles but we need to start doing that to build confidence."

Meanwhile, third placed Eves Realty Greerton face off against second placed Mount Maunganui - with Greerton aiming to redeem themselves from the defeat in the reverse fixture in round one.

And Tauranga Boys' College will be at home at their temporary base at Blake Park three against competition leaders Element IMF Cadets. The first Baywide Cup meeting between the two sides saw the encounter abandoned without a ball being bowled.

BOPCA Baywide premier competition fixtures

Baywide Cup,
Saturday, 12pm start:

Bayleys Central Indians v New World Te Puke, Smallbone Park, Rotorua.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College v Element IMF Cadets, Blake Park 3, Tauranga.

Eves Realty Greerton v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Pemberton Park, Tauranga.

Points: Element IMF Cadets 118, Carrus Mount Maunganui 102, Eves Realty Greerton 82, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 82, New World Te Puke 70, Bayleys Central Indians 17.