Cricket: Central blame slow pitch

Rotorua Central have gone down in their opening match of the Baywide cricket season after their batsmen failed to fire.

With the 110-over Baywide Cup match being played on Boord Park's artificial pitch, the home side won the toss and chose to bat first against Te Puke on Saturday.

However its batsmen struggled - Lilesh Solanki (13) and Julian Danby (20) the best of the top order until Richard Downs came in at number eight and hit a valuable 36. Central were dismissed for 122 after just 35 overs - a disappointing effort, according to captain Peter Wood.

"We expect more out of the top order batsmen, myself included," he said. "You'll never be able to defend such a low score."

With Te Puke needing just 123 to win off the remaining 75 overs, Central bowlers Jason Trembath (3/31) and Ben Watkinson (3/23) combined to have the visitors in possible trouble at 93/5.

But the Te Puke side held their nerve to reach the target with four wickets in hand, Tai Bridgman-Raison top scoring with 45.

Wood put his side's poor batting display down to a bit of early-season rustiness as well as a tricky pitch.

"It was quite a tough pitch to bat on, it was slow-paced. No one adjusted to it."

They'll be back on the same artificial pitch for this weekend's big local derby against Bay of Plenty Indians, so will be getting in as much time with the bat as possible during training this week.

"This week we will have a batting focus - the bowlers did a good job," said Wood.

The Bay of Plenty Indians will also be hoping for a better performance, with both bat and ball, after they were soundly beaten by Otumoetai Cadets at Tauranga's Fergusson Park.

Batting first the Cadets amassed 288/6 with Josh Evemy (72) and Cadets newcomer Cory Anderson (54) leading the way for the home team.

The Cadets' Boult brothers, Jono (4/50) and Trent (2/30), then bowled the visitors out for 168, Prashant Dhanjee top scoring for the Rotorua side with 51 runs.

Mount Maunganui's Pete Drysdale set the new season alight, smashing 177 runs as his side posted 318/6 declared against East Bay United at Blake Park. Mark Divehall (49) also made a useful contribution.

The Eastern Bay visitors were dismissed for 135, with Bay of Plenty reps Tony Goodin and Dale Swan taking four wickets apiece.

Eastern Bay will host the Cadets, last year's Baywide Cup champions, this week.

The remaining first-round match between Tauranga Boys College and Greerton will be played at a later date.