Cricket: Central eying top two cup finish

Rotorua Central are in a good position heading into their last round robin match of the Williams Cup. Pictured is Central's Kyle Blanchard. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rotorua's Central Cricket Club are in the strongest position they've been in for years as they chase their first Williams Cup title since 2007.

Central have already secured a spot in the semifinals of the cup, which is the biggest prize in Bay of Plenty cricket.

The local club have won five straight games in the competition and are in the running to qualify in the top two for the playoffs, with one round remaining this weekend.

Central captain Jason Trembath said they were in good form and were high on confidence.

"It has put a bit more belief in the boys," he said. "The boys are turning up early on a Saturday and there is just a bit more confidence in the team."

He said it had been a long time since they were in this kind of position.

"In my first year out of school we were quite strong but certainly since becoming captain or being involved as a senior player this is the best position we have been in."

Central are tied equal first on the ladder with Mount Maunganui and Otumoetai Cadets, and will play fourth-placed Greerton tomorrow.

"Looking at the run rate I think we are third with those two teams, so we want to win this weekend and get that place in the top two."

The two sides that finish top on the ladder will go into the major semifinal on March 21. The winners of that semifinal go straight to the final while the losers play the winners of the other semifinal, between the third and fourth placed teams.

While Central against Greerton shapes as a big game tomorrow at Pemberton Park, another big match will see Mount Maunganui square off with arch-rivals Cadets at Blake Park.

Meanwhile, Bay of Plenty Indians (Rotorua) will play Te Puke away tomorrow. While Te Puke will be favoured to win, the Rotorua team, with Bay of Plenty master blaster Bharat Popli back in their ranks, could cause an upset.

Popli re-wrote the Bay of Plenty Cricket record book against Poverty Bay, smashing his seventh century since making his Bay debut six seasons ago.

Whakatane United and Tauranga Boys' College will be playing for pride when they meet at Rex Morpeth Park in Whakatane.

*Baywide Williams Cup draw tomorrow (games start 12pm):

Whakatane United v Tauranga Boys' College, Rex Morpeth Park; Te Puke v BOP Indians, Te Puke Domain; Mount Maunganui v Cadets, Blake 1; Greerton v Central, Pemberton Park.