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.
