Eves Realty Greerton and Element IMF Cadets will fight out the 2018 Williams Cup title at the Bay Oval next Saturday after the semifinals and preliminary finals were completed over the weekend.
Greerton batted first against Bayleys Central Indians, in the major semifinal at Pemberton Park, and made a solid but circumspect start. Pip Thickpenny kept the scoreboard ticking over and finished with his sides top score of 54. A ninth wicket partnership between keeper Tom Renouf and Jared Tutty took the hosts through to 192/8 in their 50 overs. Jake Rowe was the best of the Rotorua side's bowlers with 3/29.
Attacking Greerton bowling from the first ball of the second innings quickly had the Central Indians batsmen on the back foot. The first wicket fell with just four runs on the board and quickly became 2/17 and 3/24. At six down for 34 runs there was some desperation showing, however a stubborn 10th wicket partnership between Andrew Gibbs (27 not out) and Shonit Chandra (25) gave the Central Indians batting attack respectability as they were eventually removed for 134.
Bay of Plenty representative pace man Tommy Clout was in scintillating form taking four wickets for 32 runs. Jared Tutty took three wickets and James Boyd took two.
Cadets earned a trip to Rotorua todayto fight out the preliminary final against Central Indians, after they ended Carrus Mount Maunganui's season in the sudden-death minor semifinal at Blake Park.
Cadets set the home side a target of 180 to win as Sean Davey top scored with 87. Keeper Daniel Maathuis posted a handy 33, while Chris Atkinson and veteran all-rounder Nick Smith took three wickets each.
The Mount Maunganui reply saw their batsmen coming and going, to and from the crease, as they were removed for 70. Captain Jono Boult produced Cadets' best bowling figures of three wickets at a cost of just 10 runs, while Kamal Bains also took three.
Cadets made the title decider when they took little time to beat Central Indians at Smallbone Park in Rotorua today.Batting first Central Indians were rolled for just 72 in the 16th over. Cadets, who will be chasing their 11th Williams Cup crown next weekend, waltzed to a nine-wicket victory.
Individual honours belonged to Cadets skipper Jono Boult, who for the second successive weekend took a six wicket bag returning 6/22, while Sean Davey took three cheap wickets. Sohel Rana was the best of the home side's batsmen with 28 runs.
Ruben Clinton (35 not out) and Fergus Lellman (30 not out) took Cadets through to contest the 2018 Williams Cup Final.
Williams Cup March 17-18
Sunday
Preliminary Final
Bayleys Central Indians 72 (S Rana 28; J Boult 6/22, S Davey 3/6) lost to Element IMF Cadets 73/1 (R Clinton 35no, F Lellman 30no)
Saturday
Major Semi-Final
Eves Realty Greerton 192/8 (P Thickpenny 54, T Renouf 22no; J Rowe 3/29, R Gosai 2/27) beat Bayleys Central Indians 134 (A Gibbs 27no, R Gosai 26, S Chandra 25; T Clout 4/32, J Tutty 3/37, J Boyd 2/11)
Minor Semi-Final
Cadets 179 (S Davey 87. D Maathuis 33; C Atkinson 3/21, N Smith 3/35, D Swan 2/22) beat Mount Maunganui 70 (J Boult 3/10, K Bains 3/15, G Singh 2/10)