Rotorua Central win tense T20 grand final
Rotorua’s Smallbone Park played host to the grand final of the Rotorua Senior Reserve T20 competition last Saturday where Rotorua Central defeated BOP Indians in a tense final.
In their first appearance in the T20 final, Central posted 133/6 off their 20 overs. Useful contributions from L Gahlan (41) and A McMurdo (35) set up a total that would be hard to match. Central went about defending the total full of confidence and although the BOP Indians got off to a reasonable start, Central put the squeeze on and slowed the flow of runs through the middle stages. With 17 required from the last over, A McMurdo bowled a tight over and picked up a wicket with the final ball of the game.
The only Taupo team in action was the Taupo¯ Cossie College Old Boys who finished their Rotorua Senior T20 campaign with a hard-earned win over the Rotorua Strikers to take out third place. Batting first, the home side were bowled out for 137 off 19 overs. Craig ‘Shuffles’ Corbett was the chief destroyer, picking up four wickets with his deceptively slow bouncers. Heckie Du Plessis and Sahib Singh were the other notables with a brace of wickets each.
In the visitors’ turn at bat, Simon Smith responded in his usual fashion by blasting 67 off 33 balls. Ably supported by his top order counterparts, the Taupo¯ boys got home with an over to spare.
This weekend the Rotorua Senior Reserve Championship kicks off with College Old Boys A playing host to Geyser City Reserves at Owen Delany Park. Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club travel to Rotorua where they will be favoured to take the win points from Geyser Mavericks. Meanwhile College Old Boys B kick off with the bye.
After a week off, Generation Homes Lake Taupo¯ Cricket Club
Premiers will be looking to secure a home final as they host Geyser City Premiers this Saturday in the plate semi final at Owen Delany Park from 12pm. A win will see the Taupo¯ boys challenge for their first piece of silverware since entering the top grade in 2017, against either Central Indians or Tauranga Boys. Results:
Rotorua Central 133/6 (L Gahlan 41, A McMurdo 35) defeated BOP Indians 122 (S Lund 2-27, P Wyllie 2-18).
Rotorua Strikers 137 (B S Gandhi 60, C Corbett 4/15 S Singh 2/30 H Du Plessis 2/36 ) lost to Taupo¯ College Old Boys A 139/2 (S Smith 67, J Singh 28*).