Cricket: Western Bay edge Rotorua

Gulwinder Singh sported a high release for Tauranga against Eastern Bay in the Attrill Cup at Fergusson Park. Photo / George Novak

A Western Bay side, featuring strong representation from Te Puke and Mount Maunganui,has won one of the best Attrill Cup deciders in some time.

A leg bye off the final ball of the match was an incredible way for a strong Rotorua side to go down, but the results of the previous day had perhaps hinted that something strange was ahead.

The Battle of the Harbour Bridge, between defending champions Tauranga and the Western Bay team, turned into a battle of attrition before the well-balanced Western Bay earned the result.

Tauranga lost the toss and were asked to bat first, and while wickets were falling at one end, opener Tom MacRury proved difficult to remove.

He top scored with 74 and combined with Donovan Deeble (29), batting at six, to bring his side back into the match.

Tommy Clout compiled 26 at the tail of the innings, allowing Tauranga to post 216 despite Josh Dwight (5/24) and Western Bay skipper Peter Drysdale (3/27) proving tough to get away.

Peter Drysdale and Tim Clarke then set about taking control of the contest, reaching 160 without loss before Clarke was dismissed for 67. A mini collapse, in which four wickets fell for one run, was the consequence, but Stephen Crossan (18no) and Drysdale (92no) did enough to get their side home by five wickets.

Rotorua won the toss and batted first against Eastern Bay of Plenty, posting 179 all out. Jason Trembath top scored with 49, while Johnny Barrow finished with 45 runs.

From there Andrew Gibbs took over. The former Bay player, who has looked sharp early in the season, took 7/30 to rip the Eastern Bay out for 45.

ATTRILL CUP

October 25: Rotorua 179 (Jason Trembath 49, Johnny Barrow 45, Brad Munro 30; David Brent 4/16, Devon Bell 2/29, Oliver Smithson 2/44) defeated Eastern Bay of Plenty 45 (Alex Yates 19; Andrew Gibbs 7/30, J Trembath 2/4); Tauranga 216 (Tom MacRury 74, Donovan Deeble 29, Tommy Clout 26; Josh Dwight 5/24, Peter Drysdale 3/27) lost to Western Bay of Plenty 217 (P Drysdale 92no, Tim Clarke 67; T Clout 3/51, B Hampton 2/32)

October 26: Rotorua 233/4 (Jason Trembath 111, Vaughan Blanchard 80; Josh Dwight 3/39) lost to Western Bay of Plenty 234/8 (Ben Musgrave 62, Blair Parlane 55, Matt Golding 31no, Mitch McCann 21; Andrew Gibbs 3/32, Alastair Blackett 3/77); Eastern Bay of Plenty 178 (Joe Barrett 44, Devon Bell 29; Sean Dykes 4/17, JJ Boult 2/26, Gurinder Singh 2/42) lost to Tauranga 179/8 (Tommy Clout 41no, Kent Hodder 41, JJ Boult 32, Cameron Neal 25; Owen Smithson 4/40)

Final points: Western Bay of Plenty (Mount Maunganui/Te Puke) 9, Rotorua 4, Tauranga 4, Eastern Bay of Plenty 0.