Cricket: Rain reworks Williams Cup

Rotorua's Central Cricket Club have just missed out on the Baywide Williams Cup semifinals. Pictured is Central all-rounder Ben Blackett. Photo/File

Wild weekend weather has ensured Rotorua's Central Cricket Club will miss out on the Williams Cup semifinals this season.

With the last round-robin matches rained off on Saturday, Central have finished in fifth place, one spot outside the semifinals in the Baywide Williams Cup.

Eves Realty Greerton have joined City Sports Bar Te Puke, Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets and Mount Maunganui in the playoffs, which begin next weekend.

Te Puke finished the Williams Cup round-robin series without defeat, albeit with a tied result with Mount Maunganui last weekend, and have gained the coveted number one spot in the playoffs.

Te Puke will play against Greerton at the Te Puke Domain on Saturday.

The second semifinal continues the intense rivalry between Cadets and hosts Mount Maunganui.

There were several outstanding feats and achievements in the 2014 edition of the Baywide trophy, that stretches back to the 1930s.

Greerton master blaster Cameron Neal smashed 196 off just 107 balls in the opening round.

Last weekend, Bay of Plenty and Greerton batsman Tom MacRury blasted a quickfire 169, to ensure his team moved into the top four for the first time this season.

Few in the Te Puke and Mount Maunganui premier teams will forget their tied result in last weekend's match.

Williams Cup Honours Board 2014:

Top run-scorer: 254 Tom MacRury (Greerton), 240 Alex Yates (Whakatane United), 229 Cam Neal (Greerton), 212 Nick Earl (Cadets), 211 Mark Orchard (Tauranga BC).

Top wicket-taker: 13 Alex Gooding (Mount Maunganui), 13 Jason Trembath (Central), 10 Dan Spencer (Greerton), 10 Vaughan Blanchard (Central), 9 Alex Yates (Whakatane United).