Central Indians fall to Cadets

Central Indians' Stephen Nicholls, left and Rohan Gosai grab a run in the game against Cadets on Saturday. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Central Indians fell to a resurgent Cadets side in the Williams Cup on Saturday..
Cadets rebounded from last week's loss to arch-rivals Mount Maunganui, leaving Rotorua as winners.

The Rotorua combined side were bowled out for 178, with Stephen Nicholls anchoring his team's target with 64 runs.

Cadets in-form batsman Morton Freer took charge of the reply to hammer 75, with Scott Steward and Daniel Maathuis, also made solid contributions to the Western Bay visitors seven wicket win.

The halfway stage of Williams Cup round robin competition sees Mount Maunganui, Cadets and Greerton holding a share of the lead with just one defeat apiece, with all three teams looking likely semifinalists.

Tai Bridgman-Raison rewrote Te Puke Cricket Club batting history on Saturday when he blasted a century in his team's encounter with Tauranga Boys' College.

Batting first at the Te Puke Domain, the host side posted 296/4 with Bridgman-Raison stroking his way to 174.

The long-time Te Puke player, who previously held the most centuries for the club with the late Andy Roberts, grabbed outright ownership with his big ton.

His 174 runs also went past the club's premier highest score posted by Black Cap skipper Kane Williamson a few years ago.

Tauranga Boys made a valiant attempt on the big target but were bowled out for 200, to give Te Puke their first win of the current Williams Cup title race. Josh Earle did the damage with the ball taking five wickets.

For the third weekend in a row, Greerton chased down a big score when they took home a three wicket win over Mount Maunganui at Mount headquarters, Blake Park.

The home side took first use of the wicket and made a grand start, with keeper Matt Golding and Nick Smith putting on an opening stand of 99 runs. Golding went on to top score with 87 as Mount Maunganui reached 232 for the loss of three wickets.

The Mount bowlers controlled the early momentum in the Greerton reply, with the introduction of spin slowing the run rate. However Lee Watkins batting at six turned the encounter around, as he took aim on the boundary to belt an unbeaten 93, which included seven sixes.

Skipper Shane Wineti (35) and Murray Jarvis (33) also made solid contributions as Greerton got home with three wickets to spare.

Williams Cup Results February 4, 2017
Carrus Mount Maunganui 232/3 (Matt Golding 87, Nick Smith 38, Jason Luke 34no, Logan Carr 22no, Blair McKenzie 22; James Boyd 2/34) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 233/7 (Lee Watkins 93no, Shane Wineti 35, Murray Jarvis 33; Kyle Dovey 3/42, Nick Smith 2/31)
Bayleys Central Indians 178 (Stephen Nicholls 64, Rohan Gosai 32; Ben Christensen 2/24, Jim Van Der Vorm 2/33, Morton Freer 2/35, Kamal Bains 2/38) lost to Element IMF Cadets 179/3 (M Freer 75, Scott Steward 36, Daniel Maathuis 31no)
New World Te Puke 296/4 (Tai Bridgman-Raison 174) defeated Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 200 (Josh Earle 5/37)

Williams Cup Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 27, Element IMF Cadets 27, Eves Realty Greerton 27, Bayleys Central Indians 12, New World Te Puke 9, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 3.