Cricket: Shorthanded Cadets finish on top for playoffs

Element IMF Cadets, who have won the Williams Cup nine times in the past two decades, finished on top of the 2013 qualifying competition when they defeated Te Puke in a top of the table clash at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday.

Mount Maunganui, Te Puke and Greerton will join Cadets in next weekend's semifinals.

Te Puke batted first against a Cadets team who could only muster nine players on the day. However led by some athletic fielding and a superb bowling performance from Dutch player Viv Kingsma, the visitors were removed for just 102.

Te Puke's top score of 20, by Jeremy Bates, told the tale of a side that batted without any authority. Kingsma bowled line and length deliveries to be rewarded with 5/28. Colin Robb finished with 3/44 with Cadets veteran Campbell Wilson chipping in with two wickets.

Cadets made relatively easy work of securing the win, getting home for the loss of four wickets. The Tauranga Domain-based side will now host fourth-placed Greerton in one semifinal next Saturday.

Mount Maunganui cemented their post section berth in amazing run fest with East Bay United in Whakatane. Led by an epic innings from East Bay United's Alex Yates, who smashed 139, the Eastern Bay side posted an outstanding 312/6. Pip Thickpenny chimed in with 45, with Tom Yates there at the end on an unbeaten 31.

In spite of facing a target of better than a run a ball, the Mount side blazed away to chase down the huge target with two overs to spare. A 105 first wicket partnership between Joel Thompson and Mike Corbett (72) set the platform.

But the hero of the Mount innings was Daniel Hill, who smashed 95 not out from just 68 balls to get his team to a dramatic victory. Mount Maunganui will now meet Te Puke in the other semifinal.

Eves Realty Greerton secured their place in the playoffs with a comfortable win over BOP Indians in Rotorua. After the home side were dismissed for 164, Greerton strolled to a seven-wicket win led by an undefeated 66 from Cameron Neal.

Tauranga Boys' College defeated Central and finished the Baywide major competition in fifth place. Central were bowled out for just 91 with Tauranga Boys' cruising to victory with six wickets to spare. Ryan Balsom top-scored with 33.