Cricket: College hit Central hopes

The Rotorua-based Bay of Plenty Indians lost to Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets on Saturday in Rotorua. Pictured is Indians wicket keeper Aaron Walker. Photo/Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Central Cricket Club have slipped out of the top four in the Williams Cup just one round out from the semifinals.

Rotorua's top cricket team took a huge blow to their playoff hopes after losing to Tauranga Boys' College on Saturday.

Meanwhile, City Sports Bar Te Puke have held onto their unbeaten record in the Baywide premier competition - albeit with a rare tie with arch-rivals Mount Maunganui.

Central travelled to Tauranga on Saturday to play Tauranga Boys' College.

The students restricted Central to 216/7 in their 50 overs. In-form Central captain Jason Trembath top-scored for his side with 59.

In reply, Tauranga Boys' College mentor Mark Orchard blasted an unbeaten 109, helping his team reach their target with nine balls to spare.

Tauranga Boys' did Greerton a big favour, helping them leapfrog Central into the top four for the first time in the 2014 Williams Cup.

Eves Realty Greerton batsman Tom MacRury, fresh off a century for Bay of Plenty last weekend, blasted the Rotorua-based Bay of Plenty Indians off Smallbone Park on Saturday.

He scored 169 as Greerton posted a massive 350/5.

The Greerton bowlers wasted little time in grabbing the win, bowling the Indians out for 111.

Meanwhile, in the Te Puke versus Mount match, Te Puke batted first and posted 186.

Te Puke had early success with Mount Maunganui reeling at 23/3 but skipper Peter Drysdale dug deep and posted a half century to lead the fight back. With the Mount looking for victory on the last ball of the game, a Te Puke fielding save saw the match finish in a tie.

The tied result is enough to give Te Puke a home semifinal.

The third century of the day came in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, where Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets cruised to victory over Whakatane United.

The home team batted first and were removed for 182. Cadets won by nine wickets with Nick Earl scoring 103 not out.

Baywide Williams Cup results from Saturday March 8:

Eves Realty Greerton 350/5 (T MacRury 169, S Wineti 66, K Hodder 50; R Gosai 2/31) defeated BOP Indians 111 (B Das 38; J Boyd 5/25, M Jarvis 3/18, C Thomas 2/22)

Whakatane United 182 (T Yates 33, R Nillisen 29, B Sayliss 23no; B Christensen 4/8, J Birchall 3/25) lost to Element IMF Cadets 183/1 (N Earl 103no, A Peacocke 50)

Central 217/6 (J Trembath 59, A Mackay 55, J Barrow 41; M Orchard 3/31) lost to Tauranga Boys College 218/7 (M Orchard 108no, H Perry 24; A Gibbs 2/22, V Blanchard 2/33)

City Sports Bar Te Puke 186 (M McCann 39, T Bridgman-Raison 32, J Dwight 29, S Crossan 21, B Parlane 21; T Goodin 3/15, A Gooding 2/37, D Swan 2/39) tied with Mount Maunganui 186/9 (P Drysdale 51, T Goodin 37no, D Hill 32, M Golding 22; C Williams 3/28, J Bates 3/29)