Cricket: Greerton, Te Puke to fight out decider

Tai Bridgeman-Raison, in action here for Te Puke against Mount Maunganui this season, scored a well-paced century to help his side book a berth in the Williams Cup final. Photo/File

Eves Realty Greerton will meet City Sports Bar Te Puke in the Williams Cup final after each side accounted for Element IMF Cadets.

Top qualifiers Te Puke were the first to book their spot by giving Cadets a cricket lesson in the major semifinal played at the Te Puke Domain on Saturday.

Long-time Te Puke batsman Tai Bridgeman-Raison was in magnificent touch as he blasted his way to a popular, unbeaten century to pace his side to an imposing 278-8.

His knock included four sixes and a four from the final over after Scott Tallott, Mitch McCann, Josh Dwight, Jeremy Bates and Stephen Crossan had made useful contributions.

The Te Puke bowlers then roared into action, with Charles Williams grabbing four wickets as Cadets were rolled for just 123.

Skipper Ben Christensen was the only Cadets batsman to offer any real defiance against the Te Puke attack.

Te Puke bowlers Bates and McCann grabbed two wickets apiece.

Up the coast, Mount Maunganui capitulated with the bat in the minor semifinal in the manner that has dogged the final month of their season.

Greerton got first use of a decent batting strip at Blake Park after sneaking into the post section action in fourth place, and looked headed for a big score before posting 214-7 in their allotted overs.

Bay of Plenty batsmen Tom MacRury and Brett Hampton posted fifties in contrasting fashion before being removed by spin, with Mount captain Peter Drysdale the pick of the bowlers with 3-31.

Drysdale resembled a bearded man on an island in the chase - his 74 not out was the only Mount score besides extras to reach double figures as he watched the rest of the batsmen come and go for a total of 114 inside 29 overs.

Hampton accounted for the top order before Clout, who again struggled with extras, finally found his line to rip through a succession of right-handers in the middle order.

The third member of the Bay seam bowling attack, Campbell Thomas, produced his usual nagging line and length to chip in with 2-25.

Those results left Cadets and Greerton to scrap it out for the one remaining spot in the final.

Cadets won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on what looked to be a green wicket with plenty for the bowlers.

After the loss of early wickets, Shane Wineti (56) and Cameron Neal (37) anchored Greerton's revival.

A 50-run unbeaten partnership by Tommy Clout (32no) and Campbell Thomas (16no) took Greerton through to 218-8. Cadets bowler James Birchall grabbed a five-wicket bag.

The Greerton pace trio of Tommy Clout (4-34), Campbell Thomas (3-19) and Brett Hampton (2-10) had Cadets on the back foot and at 41-5 they were well behind the eight ball. The Cadets' top score of 19 from Christian MacDonald told the tale of their batting performance as they were rolled for just 76 to propel the Pemberton Park-based team into next weekend's Williams Cup title decider.

Bay of Plenty Cricket results

Williams Cup Preliminary Final, March 23: Eves Realty Greerton 218-8 (Shane Wineti 56, Cameron Neal 37, Tommy Clout 32no) beat Element IMF Cadets 76 (T Clout 4-34, Campbell Thomas 3-19, Brett Hampton 2-10)

Williams Cup (Baywide Premier) Semifinals, March 22: Major semi: City Sports Bar Te Puke 278-8 (T Bridgman 119no, Scott Tallott 49, McCann 34, J Dwight 23, J Bates 22, S Crossan 20; B Quirk 3-23) beat Element IMF Cadets (B Christensen 51; C Williams 4-32, M McCann 2-9, J Bates 2-16). Minor semi: Eves Realty Greerton 214-7 (T MacRury 59, B Hampton 54, R Parnell 28; P Drysdale 3-31) beat Mount Maunganui 114 (P Drysdale 74no; B Hampton 4-37, T Clout 4-41, C Thomas 2-25).