Cricket: Tauranga Boys' College win inaugural Geyser Cup

Tauranga Boys' College won the inaugural Chance Cars Geyser Cup invitational cricket tournament. Photo / Supplied

Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys' College have claimed the inaugural Chance Cars Geyser Cup invitational cricket tournament.

At the tournament played over the weekend, they defeated Bayleys Central Indians in the title decider.

Tauranga Boys' and Rotorua's Central Indians were joined by Geyser Cricket Club and Hawke's Bay visitors Taradale for two rounds of T20 competition at Smallbone and Boord Parks on day one.

The Tauranga students and Central Indians emerged with two wins apiece from the T20 shootouts, with the two victors moving directly to a 40-over final on day two. Geyser City and Taradale played off for third in a 30-over encounter.

Tauranga Boys' won the toss and elected to bat, only to lose their first wicket with just one run on the board. At 20/3 they needed stability at the wicket - which was provided by Tim Pringle and Tim Clarke, who put on a 79-run partnership. When Pringle was removed for 54, Clarke remained steadfast at the wicket to take his team to 212/9, with an unbeaten 93 runs off 71 balls.

The Rotorua combined side's reply got away to a good start and, with 72 runs on the board for the loss of just two wickets, the game appeared up for grabs.

Tauranga Boys' piled pressure on with the ball and were rewarded with three wickets. The visitors' bowling onslaught continued and, at 127/9, the game seemed over.

However, a fighting last-wicket partnership between Andrew Gibbs and number 11 Neraj Kumar produced 53 runs. Kumar launched an attack on the opposition bowlers, which produced an undefeated 42 runs off just 23 balls, including seven fours and one six.

When Gibbs was dismissed in the 35th over, Central Indians had gained genuine respectability in posting 180 runs, 33 short of their target. Jack Jones bowled good line and length to be rewarded with three wickets.

Geyser CC strode to the wicket in a confident manner against Taradale in the battle for third place. Ben Astwood top scored with 39 runs, receiving good support from Cohen Stewart and Cody Fell, who both reached the 20s, as the home side posted 186 for the loss of eight wickets.

Taradale made a solid start, with Reece Henderson anchoring his side's turn at bat with a gritty half-century. Fell and Josh Simpson gave few runs away, with the pair taking two wickets each as Taradale were bowled out for 158 to give Geyser a 28-run win.

Chance Cars Geyser Cup results

Final

Tauranga Boys' College 213/9 (Tim Clarke 93, Tim Pringle 54; Andrew Gibbs 3/12) beat Central Indians 180 (Neraj Kumar 42no, Lovely Sandhu 33, Vinny Pathania 27; Jack Jones 3/24).

Third place
Geyser CC 186/8 (Ben Astwood 39, Cohen Stewart 27, Cody Fell 24; Charlie Geange 2/16, Ethan Madden 2/24) beat Taradale CC 158 (Reece Henderson 52, Luke Kenworthy 29; Cody Fell 2/21, Josh Simpson 2/27).

Round two
Central Indians 145/7 (Julian Danby 37, Lovely Sandhu 26; Matt Collier 2/26) beat Geyser CC 94 (Ramneet Singh 21; Steve Nicholls 3/14).

Taradale 208/1 (Callum Hewetson 100no, Henry Cooper 67no) lost to Tauranga Boys' College 211/2 (Ben Vyver 69, Niven Dovey 68no, C Williams 48).

Round one
Tauranga Boys' College 208/5 (Ben Vyver 76, Niven Dovey 59; Joe O'Donoghue 2/18) defeated Geyser CC (Ben Astwood 34; Riley Brady 2/8, Liam Collett 2/10).

Central Indians 186/5 (Bharat Popli 85, Steve Nicholls 44; Harry Cooper 2/30) beat Taradale by 81 runs.