Cricket: Central Indians lose to Te Puke in Baywide Cup

Stephen Nicholls top scored for Central Indians with 66 runs on Saturday. Photo / File

Bayleys Central Indians remain rooted to the bottom of the Baywide Cup standings after a nine-wicket loss to New World Te Puke.The win yesterday saw Te Puke leapfrog Eves Realty Greerton, who sat out the bye, to move into second spot.

Central Indians were bowled out for 173 at the Te Puke Domain, with Stephen Nicholls' 66 runs shining out like a beacon. Te Puke bowler Justin Scott did plenty of damage taking four wickets for just 15 runs.

Te Puke captain Stephen Crossan went on a one-man batting assault to hammer an unbeaten 101 off 91 balls. His batting partner for most of the innings, Brody Gilroy, was patience personified as he worked his way to 32 not out, with Te Puke's win coming in the 42nd over.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College's victory over Carrus Mount Maunganui provided them with the ideal warm-up for their appearance in the NZ Cricket First XI Cup National Finals in Palmerston North.

The students batted first and were dismissed for 168. Top scorer Ben Pomare fell one short of a half-century, while Mount skipper Dale Swan and Tony Goodin did the damage with the ball taking three wickets apiece.

Mount Maunganui appeared to be cruising when they reached the 70-run mark without loss. The dismissal of the two openers saw the visitors still in good shape at 84 for the loss of two wickets. However, three successive Mount ducks, orchestrated by Tauranga Boys' captain Mikaere Leef, turned the game on its head. At 86/5, Mount Maunganui were on the back foot, with the Tauranga Boys' bowlers going on to remove their opponents 15 runs short of their target.

Element IMF Cadets booked a Baywide Cup Final berth in two weeks' time, after their trip down the highway, to beat GM Painters Lake Taupo CC. The visitors batted first and finished with 283/8. Sean Davey blasted the Baywide Cup's second three figure score of the weekend with a neat century. Led by four wickets from skipper Jono Boult, the Western Bay of Plenty side bowled the home side out for 93 to claim a 190-run win.

Next weekend's final round of qualifying play will see a shootout between Te Puke and Greerton for the right to meet Cadets in the final.

Baywide Cup Results

Bayleys Central Indians 173 (Stephen Nicholls 66, Yohan Irani 30; Justin Scott 4/15. Cam Riley 3/32) lost to New World Te Puke 174/1 (Stephen Crossan 101no, Brody Gilroy 32no, Tai Bridgman-Raison 31)

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 168 (Ben Pomare 49, Dominic Crombie 29, Mikaere Leef 21; Dale Swan 3/29, Tony Goodin 3/45) defeated Carrus Mount Maunganui 153 (Ben Musgrave 32, George Signal 29, Peter Drysdale 25; M Leef 3/24, Craig Baldry 2/32, Tasman Carsons 2/46)

Element IMF Cadets 283/8 (Sean Davey 100, Jono Boult 38; Will Perry 2/20, John Dolan 2/43, Moko Rivers 2/62) defeated GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 93 (Roger Urbahn 23, Ray How 20; J Boult 4/20)

Points Table

Cadets 28, Te Puke 22, Greerton 19, Tauranga Boys' College 16, Mount Maunganui 13, Lake Taupo CC 9, Central Indians 6.