Cricket: Ben Musgrave in great demand

Cricket.Rep games at Blake Park. Ben Musgrave

The Ben Musgrave sweepstakes are likely to intensify in the coming weeks as the departing Tauranga Boys' College batsman hits form heading into Christmas.

Musgrave became the first player to score a premier T20 century when he lashed Element IMF Cadets for 105 on Saturday and hit 81 from 43 balls a day later to lead Bay of Plenty Secondary School Coastlands to a six-wicket win over their Lakelands counterparts from the Central and Eastern Bay.

Premier cricket, like club rugby, is essentially an arms race and teams are queuing up for the right to deploy Musgrave at the top of the order.

At least Mount Maunganui, Greerton and Te Puke have already made overtures, each presenting a slightly different case. The Mount used the venue for Sunday's internal Bay of Plenty fixture to their advantage by leaving a message of congratulations in the Blake Park changing sheds for the batsman.

Secondary School Coastlands coach Pete Swan, arguably in a conflict of interest because of his other role with Te Puke, later admitted to "getting rid of it" first chance he got.

He thought Te Puke would be a good home for the Bay of Plenty Development batsman, as it was with fellow Tauranga Boys' products Kane Williamson and Mitch McCann.

Greerton, though, will be tough to beat. Bay cricket's second T20 centurion Cam Neal is one of a number of former school pals suggesting Pemberton Park as an ideal destination.

Johann Irani paced the innings nicely alongside Musgrave, picking up 40 runs from 76 deliveries before being adjudged lbw.

Earlier, Lakelands escaped a dire situation to post a respectable total of 185. Thomas Wakelin was the chief destroyer, with Jonty Rhodes picking up 2/39 on his home track.

Bay of Plenty Red, consisting of players from St Mary's, Mount, Te Puke and Katikati Primary Schools, beat the predominantly Tauranga-based Bay of Plenty Blue.