Cricket: Central Indians in push for top four

BIG LOSS: Central Indians will be without opening bowler Himesh Gosai (pictured bowling against Te Puke earlier in the season) this weekend. PHOTO/ FILE

Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians must produce increased "scoreboard pressure" to push for a top-four spot in the BOPCA Williams Cup, according to co-captain Andrew Gibbs.

The local team have the perfect opportunity to make a statement with the bat when they take on bottom-of-the-table Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College at home tomorrow. Central Indians go into the crucial clash after a spell of recent disappointing results, including last weekend's six-wicket loss against Carrus Mount Maunganui which has left them just one spot above their opposition.

Gibbs admitted he was disappointed with his side's "bad run" and added early high scoring partnerships would be essential against Tauranga Boys'.

"To be honest our recent form hasn't been great. We have always made the games competitive and close though - so we can take a lot from that," he said.

"It's important for us to create those strong early partnerships with the bat because we've fallen short in our last few games. We need to be adding those extra 60 or so runs. If the scoreboard pressure isn't there it makes it easy for our opposition."

Central Indians will have to rely on several reserve players to step up to the mark after the loss of the experienced brother pairing Rohan and Himesh Gosai who are both unavailable.

"It is hard having to mix in reserve players but it's just something that we have to accept and do the best we can with," said Gibbs. "We are losing an opening bowler and leading batsman in Rohan and Himesh but it's a chance for new players to step up."

Central Indians are seven points off fourth-placed New World Te Puke but could still make the top four, with just one game remaining after this weekend before Williams Cup semifinals, but only if other results go their way.

"We have the potential to do it," said Gibbs. "It's not an ideal situation but we'll keep scrapping hard and hopefully we could grab that final spot."

Meanwhile at the top of the table, leaders Carrus Mount Maunganui take on second-placed Element IMF Cadets at Blake Park.

The Mount go into the top clash with the upper hand after losing the first game but winning the next two encounters when the two sides have met this season across all competitions.

And third-placed Eves Realty Greerton could join the top two sides in the playoffs if they beat defending Williams Cup champions Te Puke, at the Te Puke Domain.

Williams Cup, Saturday:

Bayleys Central Indians v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College, Smallbone Park, Rotorua.

New World Te Puke v Eves Realty Greerton, Te Puke Domain, Te Puke.

Carrus Mount Maunganui v Element IMF Cadets, Blake 1, Tauranga.

Williams Cup points table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 46, Element IMF Cadets 46, Eves Realty Greerton 40, New World Te Puke 22, Bayleys Central Indians 15, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 10.