Cricket: Tons of runs set record

Mitch McCann hits a boundary for Te Puke vs Mount Maunganui at the Te Puke Domain on Saturday. Photo / Joel Ford

Six centuries in the four Bay of Plenty Premier Baywide Cup games played on Saturday had the Bay of Plenty cricket historians scurrying for the history books to verify the record breaking day.

The top of the table clash at the Te Puke Domain between the home side and Mount Maunganui turned out to be one-way traffic. Mount Maunganui had first use of the artificial batting surface and declared with 333 runs on the board for the loss of just four wickets. Bay wicket keeper Tim Clarke blasted his side's top score of 111, with skipper Pete Drysdale also reaching three figures with 107 runs.

City Sports Bar Te Puke were very much behind the eight ball chasing a mammoth total. While Tai Bridgman-Raison (48) and Mitch McCann (29) showed some defiance, the home side were bowled out for 150. To add to the record breaking weekend, Mount quick bowler Tong Goodin grabbed a six wicket bag returning 6/42.

Eves Realty Greerton were even more dominant in their Baywide Cup encounter against East Bay United played in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Greerton won the toss and elected to bat with three of the top order smashing centuries. Tom MacRury, who joined the team this season after some standout performances for Tauranga Boys' College and made his Bay of Plenty debut last season, smashed his side's top score of 110. Scotland Under-19 batsman Mike English showcased his batting skills with an unbeaten 109. Bay master blaster Brett Hampton also posted a neat century in Greerton's total of 355 for the loss of just two wickets.

With their flag well and truly raised, the Greerton bowlers made quick work of the Eastern Bay team bundling them out for 90. Only Northern Knights Graeme Aldridge showed any real defiance with a game 42 runs. Both skipper Shane Wineti and Dan Spencer took four wickets apiece in the rout of home sides batting attack.

The sixth century of the day came in the encounter between Tauranga Boys' College and Rotorua Central at Boord Park in the Sulphur City. Tauranga Boys' lost the toss and were asked to bat, with team coach Mark Orchard failing by just two runs to post a further century on the day, as his team were removed for 198. Englishman Ryan Pedley led the Central reply with an unbeaten 101 with Central cruising to a seven wicket win.

By comparison the action at Ferguson Park in Tauranga was more sedate, as Element IMF Cadets cemented second place on the standings. Cadets batted first against BOP Indians and reached 241/9. Sean Davey top scored with 59 with Mahinder Sawroop taking four wickets for the Rotorua based team.

Cadet's bowler James Birchall took the first four Indian wickets on his way to a six wicket haul. With the Bay Indians danger man Bharat Popli falling in the twenties, Cadets had the upper hand and went on to remove the visitors for 143 for a comfortable victory.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Baywide Cup

Results from October 19

Eves Realty Greerton

355/2 (T MacRury 110, M English 109no, B Hampton 100no) defeated East Bay United 90 (G Aldridge 42; S Wineti 4/10, D Spencer 4/20).

Tauranga Boys' College

198 (M Orchard 98, K Taylor 32; V Blanchard 3/27, A Gibbs 3/40) lost to Central 199/3 (R Pedley 101no, J Barrow 40, V Blanchard 38).

Element IMF Cadets

241/9 (S Davey 58, B Christensen 43, J Boult 36; M Sawroop 4/44, K Morangi 2/36, P Dhanjee 2/36) defeated BOP Indians 143 (M Singh 30; J Birchall 6/53, B Christensen 2/11. J Boult 2/27).

Mount Maunganui

333/4 declared (T Clarke 111, P Drysdale 107, M Corbett 59) defeated City Sports Bar Te Puke 150 (T Bridgman-Raison 48, M McCann 29; T Goodin 6/42).