Cricket: Cadets and Central Indians advance to final

The Western Bay of Plenty weather played havoc with the Williams Cup semifinals on Saturday.

The major semifinal at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park was abandoned without a ball being bowled, while, a few kilometres away at Pemberton Park in Greerton, the minor semifinal was completed, albeit with a short rain-interrupted break.

Element IMF Cadets and Rotorua's Bayleys Central Indians could only sit and watch as the rain came down at Blake Park, frustrating any attempts for the top two qualifiers to play the major semifinal. The umpires, who were acutely aware of the game at Pemberton Park was under way, finally pulled stumps when there was no chance of a match due to an extremely wet outfield.

The result of the abandoned semifinal sent administrators scurrying for the Williams Cup conditions of play, which has resulted in Cadets and Central Indians advancing to the title decider at the Bay Oval next weekend.

Examination of the rules spelled out what happens in the event of a playoff game not achieving a result: "In the event of either or both semifinals being abandoned or washed out, the teams advancing to the finals will be determined by their relative placings within the round robin games."

Cadets and Central Indians who finished first and second respectively in the qualifying competition then automatically advanced to the Williams Cup Final.

While the minor semifinal between Eves Realty Greerton and Carrus Mount Maunganui was completed, it was for nought, with the rules ending the winner's chance of advancing to a repechage game on Sunday.

Greerton batted first and were bowled out for 204, with eight balls remaining in their innings. Neil Hendrie and Henry Collier got their side away to a flyer with an 83-run opening stand. Mount part-time bowler Peter Drysdale was the best of his side's bowling attack, taking four wickets at a cost of 46 runs.

Ben Guild continued his sterling run of form, since returning to Mount Maunganui from a long injury break, as he got to the 90s for the second successive weekend, belting an unbeaten 91. There were muted celebrations from the Mount team as they got home with four wickets to spare.

Bay of Plenty cricket attention now turns to the last day of the season this Saturday, when Cadets and Central Indians go head to head to decide where the Williams Cup will spend the winter.

- Supplied content

Williams Cup Semifinals

Major semifinal: Element IMF Cadets v Bayleys Central Indians - game abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Minor semifinal: Eves Realty Greerton 204 (N Hendrie 43, H Collier 39, D Spencer 35, U Ranaraja 27; P Drysdale 4/46, N Smith 2/19, D Swan 2/34, T Goodin 2/36) lost to Carrus Mount Maunganui 205/6 B Guild 91no, B Musgrave 37, B Pomare 25; S Wineti 2/22, M Rowland 2/31, J Boyd 2/57).