Sean Wakelin of Tauranga Boys' bowling for Bay of Plenty Invitation XI against Rotorua in an Attrill Cup match on Sunday. Photo / George Novak
Sean Wakelin of Tauranga Boys' bowling for Bay of Plenty Invitation XI against Rotorua in an Attrill Cup match on Sunday. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga defeated defending Attrill Cup champions Mount Maunganui/Te Puke in round three at Fergusson Park on Sunday to decide the 2015 title.
Wet weather ruined any play in round two on Saturday, with the decider then fought out by the two winners from the opening round. Mount Maunganui/Te Puke battedfirst and the combined side posted what looked to be a defendable score after being dismissed for 183. Bay skipper Peter Drysdale, was patience personified carrying his bat to an unbeaten 54, with Matt Golding posting a handy 26. Two Greerton bowlers did the damage with the ball, with Campbell Thomas returning 3-55 while Tom MacRury grabbed two wickets.
Tauranga got away to a flyer and were always ahead of the required run rate. Opener Tom MacRury took charge to blast 89 runs with Sean Davey contributing a handy 35. Cam Neal (28no) and Tim Clarke (25no) were there when victory came in the 31st over, to give Tauranga their third Attrill Cup title in four seasons.
Bay of Plenty Invitation XI beat Rotorua in the other encounter played on Sunday. Rotorua were removed for 129 with GS Gargan top scoring with 33. A trio of Western Bay secondary school students did the damage with the ball. Kamal Bains took four wickets for just 12 runs with Kyle Dovey and Craig Baldry rewarded with two wickets apiece.
Another Invitation team youngster, Tom Renouf, led his side to victory with an unbeaten 60, as his team cruised to a seven wicket win.
Mikaere Leef also batted well to finish with 21 not out. The introduction of the Invitation XI was an outstanding success, introducing a number of promising Bay of Plenty age group players to the step up to senior men's representative cricket.
-BOPCA Attrill Cup, round 3:
Mount Maunganui/Te Puke 183 (Peter Drysdale 54no, Matt Golding 26; Campbell Thomas 3-55, Tom MacRury 2-5) lost to Tauranga 187/3 (T MacRury 89, Sean Davey 35, Cam Neal 28no, Tim Clarke 25no; Dale Swan 2-46)
Rotorua 129 (GS Gargan 33, Jason Trembath 28; Kamal Bains 4-12, Kyle Dovey 2-14, Craig Baldry 2-20) lost to Bay of Plenty Invitation XI 130/3 (Tom Renouf 60no, Mikaere Leef 21no)
