Cricket: Central celebrate overdue victory

Rotorua's Central Cricket Club celebrate their first piece of Baywide silverware in seven years on Saturday. Photo/Supplied

Rotorua's Central Cricket Club have won their first piece of Baywide silverware since lifting the Williams Cup in 2007.

They defeated Mount Maunganui in the Lonestar Baywide T20 final in Tauranga on Saturday.

Central batted first and defeated Mount Maunganui by 18 runs, resulting in plenty of high fives, hugs and smiles among the Rotorua team.

Despite Mount Maunganui losing their final round-robin encounter, earlier in the afternoon, they still had enough points to qualify for the final.

Meanwhile, Central outplayed the Bay of Plenty Indians in their final round-robin match to take their place in the T20 title decider.

After winning the toss, the Rotorua team batted first and were in a strong position at the halfway stage of their turn at bat, with eight wickets in hand.

Opener Jason Trembath took control of his team's innings with a match-winning 62 runs while former Counties Manukau representative Vaughan Blanchard scored 38.

The match was evenly poised when Central finished their allotted overs at 138/5.

There was plenty of joy in the Central camp when they grabbed a Mount wicket in the first over, off the bowling of Andrew Gibbs.

Mount Maunganui stayed in touch with the required run rate but the Central bowlers kept the pressure on and were rewarded with regular wickets as Mount Maunganui were restricted to 120/8.

A gritty 47 from Dan Hill kept Mount Maunganui in contention but when the all-rounder was dismissed Central took control.

Central captain Trembath said they went out hungry for the win on Saturday.

"We haven't won anything for seven years now but we had a lot of self belief in our team and wanted it more than them.

"To go rock bottom and to struggle to find players just a few years ago, it does mean a lot to come to where we are now," Trembath said.

"It will get some young guys interested as well, after seeing the club winning a competition."

Trembath was excellent in Central's two matches on Saturday scoring 62 runs in both games.

He said they had a good chance of making the Williams Cup semi-finals, their next big target.

Baywide T20 results for Saturday February 1:

Lonestar Baywide T20 Championship final: Central 138/5 (Jason Trembath 62, Vaughan Blanchard 38; Daniel Hill 3/13) defeated Mount Maunganui 120/8 (Daniel Hill 47).

Round Seven Results: Eves Realty Greerton 102 lost to City Sports Bar Te Puke 103/5 (Tai Bridgman-Raison 44no), Central 197/5 (Kyle Blanchard 67, Jason Trembath 62) defeated BOP Indians 120/5, Element IMF Cadets 151/6 defeated Mount Maunganui 123/6 (Nick Smith 46), Whakatane United 153/7 (Alex Yates 48, Tom Yates 43) defeated Tauranga Boys' College 126/8 (Mark Orchard 29; B Jones 4/15).