FOCUSED: Blair McKenzie batting for Mount Maunganui against Central Indians. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER
FOCUSED: Blair McKenzie batting for Mount Maunganui against Central Indians. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER
The Williams Cup encounter between Eves Realty Greerton and Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College at Pemberton Park on Saturday was a thrilling run fest, with the home side chasing down Tauranga Boys' huge target of 342 with the last ball of the game.
Tauranga Boys' made a cracking start,courtesy of Yorkshire County CC batsman Alex Lees making 85 off just 57 balls, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Dan Spencer. Tim Clarke (69), Tom Renouf (67) and Dominic Crombie (35) continued their side's momentum to reach 341/8, with Jared Tutty claiming three wickets for Greerton.
The Greerton opening pair of Tom MacRury and skipper Shane Wineti got through to 124, before MacRury was removed for 85. When the Greerton captain fell for 79, the home side were 203 for the loss of two wickets. Tauranga Boys' bowlers upped their intensity, to turn the momentum, with Greerton needing more than 90 off the last 10 overs.
Harrison Perry, Lee Watkins and Josh Healey-Ormrod made solid contributions with the bat, before keeper Darren Heimann belted a four off the last ball of the game to see Greerton sneak home. Mikaere Leef grabbed four wickets for Tauranga Boys' with Dominic Crombie taking two.
Carrus Mount Maunganui continued their unbeaten start to the Williams Cup in defeating Bayleys Central Indians in another high-scoring match. Mount made 244, with Brenton Thompson continuing his good run of form to top score with 51. Ben Musgrave, Blair McKenzie and Pete Drysdale all made solid contributions with the bat. Himesh Gosai was the pick of the Rotorua side bowling attack, taking 3-38.
Central Indians were bowled out for 188 to give Mount Maunganui their third straight win in the Baywide championship. Ajay Kumar top scored for the visitors with 33 while Chris Atkinson took four wickets for the Mount.
Element IMF Cadets joined Mount Maunganui at the top of the Williams Cup standing, cruising to victory against New World Te Puke at the Tauranga Domain. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 163, with Gareth Wallace top scoring with 59. Kamal Bains and Donovan Deeble did the damage with the ball taking three wickets each.
The Te Puke bowlers had early success before Morton Freer dug in to make 83. Deeble backed up his bowling to post a solid 33 as the hosts cruised to a six-wicket victory.
New World Te Puke 163 (Gareth Wallace 59, Josh Earle 29; Kamal Bains 3/22, Donovan Deeble 3/33, Scott Steward 2/19) lost to Element IMF Cadets 167/4 (Morton Freer 83, Donovan Deeble 33; Brody Gilroy 2/38) Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 341/8 (Alex Lees 85, Tim Clarke 69, Tom Renouf 67, Dominic Crombie 35; Jared Tutty 3/97, Dan Spencer 2/68) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 344/8 (Tom MacRury 85, Shane Wineti 79, Harrison Perry 50, Lee Watkins 35, Josh Healey-Ormrod 31; Mikaere Leef 4/34, Dominic Crombie 2/70) Carrus Mount Maunganui 244 (Brenton Thompson 51, Ben Musgrave 45, Blair McKenzie 39, Peter Drysdale 33; Himesh Gosai 3/48, Tom Yarrall 2/38, Rohan Gosai 2/52) defeated Bayleys Central Indians 188 (Ajay Kumar 33, Himesh Gosai 30, Rohan Gosai 27, Andrew Gibbs 25no; Chris Atkinson 4/32, Kyle Dovey 3/30, Dale Swan 2/36)
Williams Cup Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui18, Element IMF Cadets18, Eves Realty Greerton 12, Bayleys Central Indians 6, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 0, New World Te Puke 0.
