Cricket: Central Indians start Baywide Cup with a win

Bayleys Central Indians have started their Baywide Cup campaign with a comfortable 49-run win over GM Painters Lake Taupō.

The Rotorua-based side batted first in the Lakeland derby, at Owen Delaney Park in
Taupō on Saturday, and were removed for 163, with overseas player Jake Rowe the best of their batting attack with 34 runs. Ryan Neves and Chris Tupea chimed in with 27 runs apiece.

While the Lake Taupō side took a positive approach to their reply, Central Indians
captain Steven Nicholls tore through the batting order with five wickets at a cost of
just 17 runs. Prabh Gill and Jake Rowe also bowled with real enthusiasm as the home team was bowled out for 114.

Eves Realty Greerton held on to the Baker Cup (Western Bay Challenge Trophy) by
the skin of their teeth, when they defeated Carrus Mount Maunganui at Blake Park.

Long-time Bay of Plenty representative batsman Peter Drysdale and Mount new
recruit Ben Pomare produced a 47-run partnership before the first wicket fell. Drysdale
carried on to post his side's top score of 59, with Dominic Crombie and Dan Smith
both reaching the 20s.

Matt Golding hit out late in the Mount turn at bat, as his side became bogged down, to post an unbeaten 26 runs with Mount Maunganui reaching 189/6. Dan Spencer, returning from a season break, was the best of the Greerton bowling attack, taking two wickets for 47 runs.

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Greerton opener Nicholas Hendry anchored his team's reply, showcasing a full array of shots on his way to the top score of 73. Peter Drysdale (4/28) and skipper Dale Swan (3/21) tightened the screws to put real pressure on the Greerton reply.

Entering the last over of the encounter the match was on a knife-edge, with Greerton requiring three runs to win with the last two batsmen at the crease. Jared Tutty was there at the end with an unbeaten 25 runs, as his side squeezed past their long-time rivals.

Defending Baywide Cup title holders Element IMF Cadets had to overcome a tail-end fightback from New World Te Puke at the Tauranga Domain before securing a 21-run victory.

Gurwinder Singh, who heads the Cadets' bowling attack, showed his skills with the bat to top score with a fine 56 not out, as his side were removed for 198. Northern
Districts all-rounder Sean Davey got his side away to a good start at the top of the innings with 47 runs. Christian MacDonald was the best of the Te Puke bowlers
taking four wickets at a cost of 33 runs.

Te Puke Captain Stephen Crossan (46) was in solid form at the top of his side's innings, as wickets fell at the other end. The Cadets bowlers then ramped up the action with Te Puke in real trouble, before Brody Gilroy (45) and Iman Singh (30) put together an 80-run stand for the eighth wicket.

However, Cadets prevailed to pick up the win points on offer, with Tauranga Boys'
College student Jacob Logan impressing with four wickets.

Baywide Cup Round One Results
Saturday
Carrus Mount Maunganui 189/6 (RPO Drysdale 59, M Golding 26no, D Crombie 23,
D Smith 20; D Spencer 2/47) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 190/9 (N Hendry 73, P
Davenport 27, J Tutty 25no; RPO Drysdale 4/28, D Swan 3/21.
Element IMF Cadets 198 (G Singh 56no, S Davey 47; C MacDonald 4/33, M Leef
2/29, J Earle 2/55) defeated New World Te Puke 177 (S Crossan 46, B Gilroy 45, I
Singh 30; J Logan 4/31, M Barclay 2/22, J Boult 2/22).
Bayleys Central Indians 163 (J Rowe 34, R Neves 27, C Tupea 27) defeated GM
Painters Lake Taupō CC 114 (S Nicholls 5/17, J Rowe 2/19, P Gill 2/20).
Bond & Co Tauranga Boys' College the bye
Points Table
Cadets 6, Greerton 6, Central Indians 6, Te Puke 0, Mount
Maunganui 0, Lake Taupo 0.