Cricket: Winning start for Geyser and Indians

Geyser City Western Heights High School Old Boys batsman Karl McKnight scored a handy 30 runs against Taupo Old Boys 1 before being bowled. Photo / Stephen Parker

With the Christmas ham in the rearview mirror, Rotorua/Taupo senior reserve grade cricketers have returned to the pitch for the post-Christmas 40-over competition.

Geyser City's Western Heights High School Old Boys and John Paul College Old Boys teams, along with Bay of Plenty Indians, started the competition with wins.

Geyser WHHS won the toss and chose to bat first against Taupo Old Boys 1 and posted a respectable 221/9 off their 40 overs at Ray Boord Park.

Openers Karl McKnight (30 runs) and Matt Mitchell (23) got the side off to a good start before a quick-fire 48 from wicketkeeper Eamon O'Donoghue ensured Geyser WHHS achieved a defendable score. The best of the Taupo bowlers were Colin Dyer (4-33) and Frano Allison (3-17).

Dyer backed up his bowling effort with Taupo's top score of 32 not out. Cullen O'Connor chipped in with 30 runs but Taupo were bowled out for 203, giving Geyser WHHS an 18 run victory - Joe O'Donoghue and Hayden Mitchell took three wickets each.

Seconds later, Geyser JPC were also celebrating victory, over Lake Taupo, on the same ground, having successfully chased down the opposition's total.

Batting first, Lake Taupo were all out for 193. Paul Davey led the way with 72 runs while Aaron Denyer scored 40. Geyser JPC bowlers Jono Collier (4-36) and Karamvir Singh (3-32) did the damage with the ball.

Kane Vanner led the Geyser JPC run chase with 48 runs and was backed up by Johnny Wiringi (31) and Manny Kumar (21). The run chase was a nail-biter right to the end and came down to Geyser JPC needing 10 runs off the last over, which they achieved with two balls to spare.

Meanwhile, Bay of Plenty Indians started the post-Christmas period with a comfortable six wicket win over Central.

Central batted first and were all out for 140 runs, Alex Evans and Tony Kerr top scored with 20 each. Ajay Kumar and Vicky Singh each took 3-27.

Bay of Plenty Indians chased down the total in 24.2 overs and with six wickets to spare. Yash Patel scored 33 not out and Kumar backed up his bowling performance with 30 runs. Dave Lewy took 2-22 runs for Central.

Taupo Old Boys 2 had the bye.