Mount Maunganui unbeaten in Williams Cup

SEAM UP: Andrew Gibbs bowling for Central Indians against Tauranga Boys' College on Saturday. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER

Carrus Mount Maunganui surged to the top of the Williams Cup standings and are the only unbeaten side after defeating Element Cadets on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket where solid application was needed to score runs. Brenton Thompson continued his run of form with the bat to post 37 runs, with Ben Guild coming in at three and top scoring with a hard fought 60 in his team's solid total of 220 all out.

Mount Maunganui made a grand start to defending their score, grabbing two early wickets with just two runs on the board. Morton Freer (43) and Kersley Corder (29) fought back but the Mount bowlers grabbed the ascendancy to remove the home side for 155 to claim a 65 run victory.

Eves Realty Greerton moved into second equal with Cadets after chasing down 239 to win. New World Te Puke took first use of the pitch at Pemberton Park and reached 238/8 in their 50 overs. Skipper Stephen Crossan top scored with a gritty half century with Alex Gooding reaching 40.

Cameron Neal fell one run short of a century as he blasted his team to a four wicket win. Dan Spencer posted an unbeaten 35 with Josh Healey-Ormrod making a useful contribution to his side's victory. Te Puke quick bowlers Alex Gooding and Cam Riley did most of the damage with the ball taking five wickets between them.

Bayleys Central Indians, the sole Rotorua side in the Williams Cup, posted their second win in the Baywide championship, defeating Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College at Blake Park.

Central Indians batted first and set the Tauranga students a solid target reaching 250/7. Ben Sandford led the way with a hard fought 63, while Rohan and Himesh Gosai along with Ryan Neves also among the runs. Craig Baldry was the best of the Tauranga Boys bowlers returning 2/22.

Central Indians bowler Preet Singh had a field day taking seven wickets as Tauranga Boys were removed for 155. Singh ripped through the Western Bay side's middle and lower order, taking the last seven wickets at a cost of just 31 runs. Former Tauranga Boys' First XI mentor Mark Orchard returned to top score with 49 runs.

Williams Cup

Bayleys Central Indians 250/7 (Ben Sandford 63, Rohan Gosai 50, Himesh Gosai 46, Ryan Neves 40; Craig Baldry 2/22) defeated Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 152 (Mark Orchard 49; Preet Singh 7/31)
Carrus Mount Maunganui 220 (Ben Guild 60, Brenton Thompson 37, Mark Divehall 22, Kyle Dovey 22; Kamal Bains 3/31, Gurwinder Singh 2/32, Scott Steward 2/44) defeated Element IMF Cadets 155 (Morton Freer 43, Kersley Corder 29; Daniel Hill 2/23, Luke Tatley 2/35)
New World Te Puke 238/8 (Stephen Crossan 53, Alex Gooding 40, Josh Earle 30, Jonty Grigson 20; Murray Jarvis 2/23) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 239/6 (Cameron Neal 99, Dan Spencer 35no, Josh Healy-Ormrod 25; Alex Gooding 3/39, Cam Riley 2/45)

Williams Cup Points

Carrus Mount Maunganui 28, Element IMF Cadets 21, Eves Realty Greerton 21, Bayleys Central Indians 12, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 3, New World Te Puke 3.