Both Property Brokers United and St Johns Tech are well aware of what is required in their Coastal Challenge Cup semifinals today.
For top qualifier United, it is more of the same as they meet Weraroa for the second time in seven days, following on from their five wicket winat Victoria Park last Saturday.
Defending champions Tech know they will have to lift another gear if they hope to get past second qualifier Paraparaumu down at Kena Kena Park, as the home side had a strong competition with only one defeat to United.
On February 11, Paraparaumu defeated Tech by 63 runs after getting good service from their top order with Andre Harlbert scoring 72, while others in the Top 4 getting reaching their 30's on the way to making 253-9.
Tech's key middle order of Akash Gill, Dominic Lock, Nick Harding, and Ross Kinnerley all made good starts but could not crack on for the anchor innings, while the lower order folded quickly under the pace of Ramesh Subasinghe to be all out for 190.
The Canadian import Gill has had an excellent competition for Tech - currently heading the MVP points table on the CriqHQ website as he and Lock lead the run scoring stakes (283), while Gill also sits second in the bowling department with 12 dismissals, with Dominic Rayner of Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens just ahead of him on averages.
United spinner Robbie Power has 11 wickets this campaign, while Subasinghe has 10.
Aside from their slip up against Marton in the opening match where they lost by six runs in the final over, United have been comfortable winners of their other games, which includes one default from Marist.
Against Weraroa last Saturday, the veteran bowling attack denied and thwarted their visitors, with only lower order batsman Nav Singh momentarily getting on top of them, to leave them trying to defend 157.
United reached that total on the back of an anchor 83 not out from captain Tom Lance with support from Greg Smith, while the likes of Brendon Walker and Gerard Hobbs will want a better performance with the bat personally.
In the minor playoff games, the Whanganui and Horowhenua-Kapiti teams will play each other today.
Marton host Marist at Centennial Park, while Levin face Kapiti in a battle of the Old Boys clubs at Donnelly Park.
