Cricket: Rotorua sides routed

Williams Cup action.

Rotorua's two premier cricket sides will have to wait another week to claim their first wins in the Williams Cup competition, after both coming back from Tauranga empty-handed.

Otumoetai Cadets batsman Morton Freer smashed his maiden premier century on Saturday in his team's match-up with Bayleys Central (Rotorua) at the Tauranga Domain.

The Western Bay side reached 250/6, with Freer finishing with an unbeaten 101 in the scorebook.

Northern Knights bowler Jono Boult, who was available for the encounter, scored a solid half century. Graeme Whiles was the best of the Central bowlers, grabbing three wickets.

Freer then backed up his century by grabbing three Central wickets at a cost of just nine runs, as the Rotorua team were removed for 111 to give Cadets a big victory. Central skipper Jason Trembath posted a hard fought half century.

Mount Maunganui continue to lead the way this season in the 2016 Williams Cup race after beating Bay of Plenty Indian Sports (Rotorua) at Blake Park. Mount opener Peter Drysdale smashed his second century in three weeks when he again carried his bat to finish with 108 not out. His team finished on 248/5.

The Mount Maunganui bowlers reeled in the Rotorua side's batsmen, with Yohann Irani finishing with his side's top score of 27. The Indians were dismissed for 136.

In the other premier match, the Baker Cup (WBOPCA Challenge Trophy) changed hands at Pemberton Park during an action-packed match between Greerton and Te Puke.

Four hundred runs were scored and 18 wickets fell during the match.

Baker Cup holders Greerton batted first against Te Puke and posted 219/9. Te Puke then got away to a flyer and had 100 runs on the board for the loss of just two wickets.

The Greerton bowlers then got serious and the game went to the wire, with Te Puke requiring 15 runs in the last four overs with just one wicket in hand.

The Te Puke victory came with four balls to spare in the last over.

Williams Cup results on Saturday (round three):

Mount Maunganui 248/5 (Peter Drysdale 108no, Ben Musgrave 72; Mukund Ranchood 2-39, Himesh Gosai 2-59) defeated Bay of Plenty Indian Sports 136 (Yohann Irani 27; Dale Swan 4-26)

Greerton 219/9 (Josh Bates 32, Shane Wineti 30; Brody Gilroy 4-71) lost to Te Puke 220/9 (Tai Bridgman-Raison 44, Stephen Crossan 37; James Boyd 3-26)

Cadets 250/6 (Morton Freer 101no, Jono Boult 57; Graeme Whiles 3-50, Andrew Gibbs 2-62) defeated Bayleys Central 111 (Jason Trembath 52; M Freer 3-9)

Williams Cup points:

Mount Maunganui 18, Cadets 12, Te Puke 12 , Tauranga Boys' College 6, Greerton 6, Bayleys Central 0, Bay of Plenty Indian Sports 0.