Defending T20 champions Tauranga Boys' College posted an unbeaten record on the opening day of the T20 competition, albeit with a first-up tie against Cadets.
Brilliant weather welcomed in the first two rounds of the Baywide T20 competition played in Rotorua at the weekend.
Batting first, Tauranga Boys' were dismissed for 128 with Tom MacRury (30) and Alex Oakley (22) the best of the students' batsmen, with Josh Christensen taking three wickets for Cadets.
In a dramatic finish to the encounter, Cadets went into the last over needing just five runs for victory with eight wickets in hand. Tauranga Boys' bowler MacRury grabbed two wickets in the over and a further run out saw Cadets
finish their turn at bat on 128/8, which resulted in a rare tie.
Te Puke posted 168/8 against East Bay United with Mitch McCann and Tai Bridgeman-Raison both belting half centuries. East Bay United, weakened by last-minute withdrawals, were bowled out for 60. Tom Yates top scored with 27 not out.
Greerton 150/7 despatched BOP Indians, who were without seven first team members courtesy of a wedding, when they bowled the Rotorua side out for 74. In an intercity battle, Mount Maunganui chased down Rotorua Central's 135 for the loss of five wickets.
No player made a more spectacular entrance into the first day of the Baywide T20 competition than Te Puke bowler Sean Gibson. After taking three wickets in the early afternoon game, Gibson went ballistic against BOP Indians, taking six wickets for four runs.
Te Puke batted first and posted a solid 176/6, with Mitch McCann top scoring for the second time in the day with an unbeaten 77 runs.
The Indian team challenge was swept aside when they were removed for 60, with Jeremy Bates taking 3/6 to add to the six-wicket bag by Gibson.
Tauranga Boys' College upset Mount Maunganui after they posted 120/6. Gareth Wallace top scored with a solid 43 with Alex Oakley chipping in with a handy 34 runs. Tauranga Boys' mentor Mark Orchard was the star of the show, taking two wickets and grabbing four catches in the field.
Greerton joined Te Puke in posting two wins, when they easily got past East Bay United after the Eastern Bay side were removed for 96. Cadets defended a modest 115/7 against Central, restricting the opposition to 102/9.