Western Bay fielders celebrate the dismissal of Tauranga batsman Scott Steward. Photo / Andrew Warner
Defending Attrill Cup champions Tauranga have one hand on the cup for 2013 after beating Western Bay of Plenty in glorious sunshine at Fergusson Park yesterday.
Batting first, Tauranga reached 204/9 in their 50 overs. Tom MacRury top scored with a patient 68 off 130 balls with Sean Davey posting
59 runs. The defining partnership in the Tauranga innings was the 89 runs put on by MacRury and Davey. Jeremy Bates took three wickets for 32, with the combined team wicketkeeper Tim Clarke taking six catches.
Western Bay, who draw their players from Mount Maunganui and Te Puke premier teams, were in early trouble, losing their top order relatively cheaply, before Ben Guild turned the tide with a handy 21 runs. It was left to Josh Dwight and Dale Swan, who are better known for their bowling feats, to give the combined team a chance of victory. Swan was in good touch with 28 runs off 42 balls; however when Dwight was dismissed for 30, Western Bay were behind the eight ball. The combined side were eventually dismissed for 161 to hand the defending champions a 43-run victory.
Eastern Bay of Plenty lost the toss at Rex Morepeth Park in Whakatane and were asked to bowl first in their encounter with Rotorua. On a seaming wicket, the two Eastern Bay leg spinners, Matt Purdy and guest player James Boyd (Tauranga Boys'), did the damage as Rotorua were rolled for 135.
Bay batsman Alex Yates played a patient knock to post an unbeaten 53 off 120 balls, to take his team to victory with four wickets in hand.
