Two Northern Knights made their marks in the opening round of the Williams Cup on Saturday as teams chased the biggest prize in Baywide cricket.
Former Tauranga Boys' College batsman Joe Carter gave his old team a batting lesson, blasting an unbeaten century as Element IMF Cadets cruised to a nine-wicket victory.
Tauranga Boys' won the toss and elected to bat and were dismissed for 181. When the first Cadets wicket fell with just 11 runs on the board, few would have imagined the devastation that Carter would hand out to the opposition bowlers. His unbeaten 116 runs came from just 53 balls, with Carter smashing eight sixes and nine fours. Tom Boorman posted an undefeated half century as Cadets reached their target in the 24th over.
Knights quick bowler Tony Goodin did the damage with the ball for Carrus Mount Maunganui as they bundled Rotorua Central out for just 44 to claim a near 200 run win at Blake Park. The home team batted first and reached 232/7 in their 50 overs. Matt Golding top scored with 70 with Ben Guild posted 61. Mount youngster Blair McKenzie continued to step up to the demands of premier cricket with 46 runs.
The Central turn at bat was short and sharp as Goodin and Chris Atkinson took control with the ball. Goodin took 5/20, with Atkinson taking 3/1 including the prized scalp of Tahir Afridi.
