Cricket: Three-way tie at the top

Rotorua reserve grade cricket's 40 Over Series resumes this weekend after a week's break.

The competition is tight with a three-way tie at the top of the table. With one round remaining in the series Central, Geyser City and Taupo Wanderers share the lead in the four-team competition. All three teams will be looking to finish on top of the table so they have the more favourable draw going into the semifinal round next weekend.

Central will be feeling confident for today's match against the bottom of the table Bay of Plenty Indians at Ray Boord Park. The side's top order batsmen have struck a rich vein of form over recent weeks and will be keen to continue this run.

Win well today and the side will face the Indians again next week for a spot in the finals on March 23.

Lose and they will find themselves in a semifinal battle with the winner of the other match today at Owen Delany Park between the Wanderers and Geyser.

The Wanderers are still smarting after their fortress at Owen Delany Park was raided by Central two weeks ago. It was the first time this year the home side had suffered a loss on home soil.

However, they won't be looking to repeat that performance where the side were bowled out for 141 runs. Central had little trouble running the target down with the loss of only four wickets.

Geyser were equally unimpressed with their last outing against the Indians, although they were able to score a reasonable total of 198/9. The Indians won the match in the 35th over for the loss of just two wickets and a well struck century by Bipal Das.

The semifinals will see first playing fourth and second playing third. Both games get under way at 12.30pm. If two teams end up with equal points at the end of today's round, the winner will be the team with the better net rate. Currently Central lead with a net rate of 26.19 followed by Geyser 22.88 and Taupo 17.92.

Points table;

Central 18, Geyser City 18, Taupo Wanderers 18, Bay of Plenty Indians 0.

Draw;

Central v Indians, Ray Boord Park; Wanderers v Geyser, Owen Delany Park.