SHARP SINGLE: Te Puke batsman Oliver Smithson gets a quick run against Mount Maunganui in Williams Cup action on Saturday.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER
SHARP SINGLE: Te Puke batsman Oliver Smithson gets a quick run against Mount Maunganui in Williams Cup action on Saturday.PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER
Two Western Bay of Plenty teams who know all about winning the Williams Cup will battle out the 2015 final at the Bay Oval on Saturday.
Element IMF Cadets and Carrus Mount Maunganui emerged from the weekend semifinals and preliminary final to earn the right to fight out the cup.
Cadets took the direct route to the grand final by defeating Rotorua Central in the major semifinal at Smallbone Park in Rotorua on Saturday.
Cadets had first use of the wicket and went on the attack to post a solid 247/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Skipper Ben Christensen led from the front blasting 65 with allrounder Donovan Deeble also scoring 65.
The Cadets bowlers dominated the Central batsmen, removing the Rotorua side for just 127. Deeble, who is arguably the most improved Baywide premier player this season, was in rampant form with the ball and grabbed 6/20.
At Blake Park Mount Maunganui won the minor semifinal against City Sports Bar Te Puke.
Defending Williams Cup titleholders Te Puke were dismissed for what looked to be a relatively modest 159, with Jeremy Bates top scoring with a hard fought 48 runs. Alex Gooding and Nick Smith were the best of the Mount bowlers, taking three wickets each.
However, the home side made heavy weather of the reply and at 60/4 had plenty of work to do. Mount No7 batsman Dan Hill was resolute at one end and posted an unbeaten half century as his side ground out a one-wicket victory. Ollie Smithson bowled good line and length and was rewarded with four wickets with Jeremy Bates backing up his batting heroics to take three wickets.
On Sunday, Mount Maunganui and Rotorua Central backed up from the previous day's semifinal action in the preliminary final at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.
Mount Maunganui batted first and set Central a solid target when they posted 225/7. The Central batsmen struggled against the Mount bowling attack and were removed for just 110 to hand Mount Maunganui a place in the final.
