Big win for Tauranga Boys' in Baywide Cricket

IN FORM: Tauranga Boys' College allrounder Sean Wakelin starred with bat and ball in the big win over Otumoetai Cadets on Saturday. PHOTO/FILE

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College scored a big victory over Baywide Cup competition leaders Element IMF Cadets at Blake Park on Saturday.

The Tauranga Boys' bowlers quickly hit full stride and had Cadets in trouble at 33-3 and then 42-5 at the students' temporary home of Blake Park while Nicholson Field is undergoing renovation work.

Long-time Cadets player Ben Christensen knuckled down and worked hard to top score with 31 but his side were removed for 94. Tauranga Boys' bowler Rhys Mischewski troubled all the Cadets batsmen and finished with a five-wicket bag while talented allrounder Sean Wakelin was also in top form grabbing four wickets.

Led by an unbeaten 25 runs from Mikaere Leef and a gritty 23 not out by Wakelin, the Tauranga students cruised to a memorable seven-wicket victory. The win has moved them up the standings into a solid third place, with just three rounds remaining in the title race.

Bayleys Central Indians, who sit at the bottom of the points ladder, came close to chasing down New World Te Puke's total of 203 at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.

Te Puke batted first with Christian MacDonald continuing his good form with the bat this season, top scoring with 89. Central Indians co-captain Andrew Gibbs again led the way with the ball taking three wickets at a cost of 35 runs.

Ben Sandford (39) and Rohan Gosai (49) got the home team away to a flyer and at 143 for the loss of three wickets looked to be on the way to picking up their first win of the season. The Te Puke bowlers struck back in spectacular fashion, grabbing four ducks in a row, to swing the momentum back their way.

Central Indians tailenders fought valiantly, however the home side were finally bowled out for 191, to give Te Puke a hard fought win on the road. Te Puke bowler Brody Gilroy was rewarded for bowling line and length to finish with six wickets.

Carrus Mount Maunganui survived some determined bowling pressure from Eves Realty Greerton to leapfrog Cadets back to the top of the Baywide Cup standings. Mount premier all-rounder Nick Smith, 20, weaved his magic with the ball taking four wickets, as Greerton were bowled out for a relatively modest 135. Cam Neal top scored with 57 runs for the home team.

Greerton's bowlers had the Mount Maunganui team digging deep as they were six down for 80. Enter Nick Smith, who was there when Mount Maunganui got home to a four-wicket win with an unbeaten 33, while Mount keeper Matt Golding posted 29 runs.

Bay of Plenty Cricket results
Baywide Cup

Element IMF Cadets 94 (Ben Christensen 31; Rhys Mischewski 5/15, Sean Wakelin 4/20) lost to Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 95/3 (Mikaere Leef 25no, Sean Wakelin 23no, Marcel Collett 21)
Eves Realty Greerton 135 (Cam Neal 57; Nick Smith 4/16, Dan Hill 2/14, Kyle Dovey 2/23) lost to Carrus Mount Maunganui 136/6 (N Smith 33no, Matt Golding 29; Lee Watkins 3/38)
New World Te Puke 203 (Christian MacDonald 82, Gareth Wallace 26; Andrew Gibbs 3/35, Himesh Gosai 2/21, Dave Lewy 2/38) defeated Bayleys Central Indians 191 (Rohan Gosai 49, S Nichols 48, Ben Sandford 39; Brody Gilroy 6/67)

Points table:

Carrus Mount Maunganui 122, Element IMF Cadets 118, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 102, New World Te Puke 90, Eves Realty Greerton 82, Bayleys Central Indians 17.