Jono Collier took three wickets for 16 as Geyser City beat R&A Sanga at the weekend. PHOTO/FILE
A six-wicket bag by a Rotorua bowler in Reserve Grade and a lightning fast century dominated proceedings in Western Bay of Plenty Grade cricket on Saturday.
Geyser City bowler Josh Simpson weaved magic with the ball against R&A Sangha, setting up his team's victory with an outstanding bowling performance. Simpson grabbed six wickets at a cost of just 30 runs, as the Sangha XI were removed for 127. GS Mahal anchored the Sangha innings with a hard fought 46 runs.
However, the Rotorua side had to fight hard for the win points on offer in the Reserve Grade Pool One encounter, with Tu Windsor grinding out an unbeaten 24 runs to take his team to victory. RD Banga was the best of the Sangha bowlers with three wickets for 34 runs.
Lake Taupo CC continued their unbeaten run, which stretches back to the season start in October 2016, with a six-wicket victory against Katikati. Habib Malik posted 77 not out, as the Taupo side chased down the Katikati target of 169 for the loss of three wickets.
Tauranga Boys' College share the lead with the Taupo team, after posting 171 all out and then bowling Sikh Sports out for 141. David Rout top scored with 54 runs for the students with Colt Jerram taking three wickets.
Whakatane United continue to lead the standings in Pool Two after accounting for Cadets. The visitors posted 107 all out, with the Eastern Bay side cruising to a four-wicket win. Aquinas College defeated Reserve Grade defending champions Te Puke, in a match where Fergus Lellman took four wickets and scored 49 runs. George Catto was also in good touch for the Aquinas boys top scoring with a neat half century.
Greerton won the battle against long time rivals Mount Maunganui at Pemberton Park. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 167. Steve Charman (34) and Mike Brown (3/37) shared the first innings honours. The victors had to work hard for the win losing six wickets on the way, with Daniel Pokai top scoring with 60 runs.
Mount Maunganui B Grade batsmen Jimmy Mail, smashed his way to a quick-fire century that saw his side score 303 all out against Albion. The Mount master blaster smashed the ball all over Blake Park One, to reach 127 before being dismissed, off just 65 balls. Jimmy Mail's three figure total follows on from 128 on the opening day of B Grade championship title race. Mount Maunganui cruised to an easy victory dismissing Albion for 137, to grab a big 166-run win.
Grasshoppers won a thriller against Mount Maunganui Colts after posting 221/9 and then bowling the Mount youngsters out for 219. The Singh XI defeated Tauranga Boys College thirds, with Bethlehem College reaching 232/8 against Wanderers and then bowling their opponents out for 149.
Results
Pool One
Katikati 168 (Matt Harrison 41, Nick Field 3/25, Hedley Darlington 3/29) lost to Lake Taupo 169/3 (Habib Malik 77no)
R&A Sangha 127 (GS Mahal 46, Josh Simpson 6/30, Jono Collier 3/16) lost to Geyser City 129/5 Tu Winsor 24no, RD Banga 3/34)
Tauranga Boys College 171 (David Rout 54, Gurdev Singh 3/31) defeated Sikh Sports 141 (Colt Jerram 3/31)
Points Table (Provisional) Lake Taupo CC 60, Tauranga Boys College 60, GeyserCity 43, Sikh Sports 35, R&A Sangha 19, Katikati 14.
Pool Two
Te Puke 198 (Daniel Elyashiv 41, Nathan Wilson 40, Brad Wooderson 30, Fergus Lellman 4/18) lost to Aquinas College 198/6 (George Catto 50, Fergus Lellman 49, Andrew Randrup 44)
Cadets 107 (Cameron Dunn 31, Mike Young 5/15, Hamish Wilde 3/14) lost to Whakatane 108/4 (Ruan Simenson 40, Pip Thickpenny 35no, Zac Heale 3/34)
Mount Maunganui 167 (Steve Charman 34, Mike Brown 3/37) lost to Greerton 168/6 (Daniel Pokai 60, Chann Lubana 34, Steve Charman 3/45)
Points Table (Provisional) Whakatane United 60, Te Puke 47, Greerton 46, Aquinas College 29, Cadets 28, Mount Maunganui 21.
B Grade
Tauranga Boys College 132 (Parambir Singh 3/33) lost to Singh XI 133/5 (Deepa Sarai 68no)
Grasshoppers 221/9 (Wayne Anderson 49, Bob Curran 29, Connor Lucas 3/45) defeated Mount Maunganui Colts 219 (Dave Biddle 75, Jordan Harrington 37, Paul Vyver 34, Wayne Anderson 3/32)
Bethlehem College 232/8 (Jay Silcock 76, Matt Davis 59, Ivan Foord 3/29) defeated Wanderers 149 (Dillan Foord 43, Tom Foord 41, Gareth Hunter 3/34)
Mount Maunganui 303 (Jimmy Mail 127, Dominic Radich 62, Bevan Wansborough 37, Matt Summerville 3/57, Surjit Surgid 5/45) defeated Albion 137 (Alistair Wickham 24no)
Points Table (Provisional) Tauranga Boys College 12, Singh XI 12, Bethlehem College 12, Wanderers 12 Mount Maunganui 12, Grasshoppers 6, Albion 6, Mount Maunganui Colts 0.