Central at full strength after flogging

Central have reacted to the hiding they took in round one of the Rotorua senior reserve 40-over series by calling in a full-strength team to take on Taupo tomorrow.

The Rotorua side received a flogging last weekend against Geyser City. Chasing 178, Central were all out for 82 runs thanks to a fine spell of bowling from Matt Collier 5/23, Dave Muir 3/13 and Ben Dyson 2/33.

Central have a sense of stability about them this weekend with the return of opener Ben Fraser, who had been used by the premier team, and the inclusion of Dave Hunt, Chanse and Shayde Perham.

However, Central have lost their captain Rees Uerata who is unavailable this week.

Their opponents, Taupo Wanderers, managed a Houdini act against the Indians last weekend. After the Indians posted 184/9, Taupo found themselves in all sorts of trouble, going into the last over, the side needed seven runs with nine wickets down. The Wanderers squeaked in - scoring the winning run on the second-to-last ball of the match.

It will be vital for Central's top order to fire and make up for last weekend, while Taupo will be intending to continue their winning ways.

In the other match of the round, Geyser City, who take on the Indians at Ray Boord Park today, will want more of the same from their bowling attack. Muir and Dyson tore apart the top order, opening the way for Collier to destroy the rest of the line-up. If there is one thing Geyser captain Karl McKnight might be looking for, it is for his top order batsmen (himself included) to make bigger totals with their bats. McKnight (34) and fellow opener Richard Campbell (36) got starts but need to go on and make three figures.

The Indians, however, aren't a team who give up easily and will be hurting from the last-over loss to Wanderers. They too will be wanting to get a win and have more than enough talent to call on.

Both games are being played at Ray Boord Park and get under way at 12.30pm.

Rotorua Senior Reserve 40 Over Series draw: Central v Taupo Wanderers, Geyser City v Indians.