Cricket: Cadets teach Boys' College a lesson

Cadets bowler LJ Brook fires down a delivery against Tauranga Boys' College on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Two centuries blasted by Element IMF Cadets batsmen opened the Baywide Cup title race in style on Saturday.

An extra incentive to win the first piece of Baywide silverware on offer this season is the winner of the Baywide Cup will represent Bay of Plenty in the ND Club Championships later in the season.

Cadets batted first against Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College at Nicholson Field and were in some early trouble losing two wickets for just 27 runs. The arrival of Northern Knight Joe Carter and Ben Christensen at the crease simply took the game away from the Tauranga students. Carter was in sublime touch, smashing his way to 125 while Christensen was in equally dominant form, posting an unbeaten 120 as Cadets declared in the 47th over at 304/3.

In spite of a gallant 47 not out from joint player/coach Tim Clarke, the Tauranga students were dismissed for 108 to hand Cadets an easy victory. Clarke, who teaches at the school, was a rock at one end, as he defied the visitor's strong bowling attack. Former New Zealand Under-19 player Sean Davey grabbed three wickets for just six runs, while Donavan Deeble and Lou Brook who is spending the English winter in the Western Bay of Plenty, took two wickets each.

A short sharp encounter between Eves Realty Greerton and Bay of Plenty Indians saw 17 wickets fall in a game that was finished by mid-afternoon. The Rotorua Indian team took first use of the wicket at Pemberton Park and were dismissed for just 66 runs. Opening batsman GS Gargan held his side's innings together to score 45, as wickets continued to fall at the other end. Greerton leggie James Boyd weaved magic with the ball to finish with four wickets at a cost of just seven runs.

Greerton were in desperate strife, before Sean Dykes dug deep in his first game in the Greerton uniform to post an unbeaten 18 runs, as the hosts scrambled home with just three wickets to spare. G Billing and T Yadav were the pick of the Indian bowling attack with three wickets each.

New World Te Puke returned home from Rotorua with a nine wicket win over Bayleys Central at Boord Park. Central posted 136 with Ben Blackett top scoring with 38 runs, while Te Puke new recruit Tom Wakelin took four wickets. Captain Stephen Crossan led from the front with an unbeaten 67, with Tai Bridgman-Raison contributing 46.

Baywide Premier:

Element IMF Cadets 304/3 (Joe Carter 125, Ben Christensen 120no) defeated Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 108 (Tim Clarke 47no; Sean Davey 3/6, Donovan Deeble 2/25, Lou Brooke 2/25); Bay of Plenty Indians 66 (GS Gargan 45; James Boyd 4/7, Campbell Thomas 3/8) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 67/7 (G Billing 3/26, T Yadav 3/27); Bayleys Central 136 (Ben Blackett 36; Tom Wakelin 4/30) lost to New World Te Puke 137/1 (Stephan Crossan 67no, Tai Bridgman-Raison 46).

Points: Otumoetai Cadets 20, Greerton 20, Te Puke 20, Tauranga Boys College 0, Bay of Plenty Indians 0, Central 0. Mount Maunganui the bye.