Greerton lead Williams Cup cricket table

Rhys Donaghy lets rip another delivery at the Greerton openers. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Greerton are top of the Williams Cup standings with the bye to come in two weeks after defeating Tauranga Boys' College on Saturday.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' took first use of their home strip at Nicholson Field and were bowled out for 153. Taylor Bettleheim top-scored with three, with Tim Clarke, Dominic Crombie and Iman Singh reaching the 20s. Greerton leggie James Boyd took his Williams Cup wicket tally to 14 after taking 4-40.

Eves Realty Greerton were well in charge with 97 on the board and seven wickets in hand before the loss of two quick wickets saw the team's lower order scrambling to pad up. ND all-rounder Brett Hampton, making a rare appearance for his club, then took control to hammer his team to victory. An unbeaten 36 off 17 balls at a strike rate over 200 powered his team to a five wicket win. Hampton hit five sixes and a boundary. Tauranga Boys' mentor Charles Williams took three wickets.

GM Painters Lake Taupo CC spent longer on their journey to and from the Western Bay of Plenty than on the field against Element IMF Cadets at the Tauranga Domain. The Taupo side won the toss and elected to bat but were rolled for just 47. Gurwinder Singh, returning from injury, sent a message to the Bay of Plenty selectors taking 5-19.

Cadets cruised to victory in the eighth over without loss with Sean Davey and Rubén Clinton getting the required total. A feature of the encounter was the premier debut of 14-year-old Dandre du Plessis who has shown outstanding form in the age-group representative ranks.

Bayleys Central Indians almost certainly booked a semifinal berth in three weeks time after dispatching New World Te Puke at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. Batting first the visitors were removed for 167, with Brody Gilroy and Cam Riley both posting 30. Jake Rowe and Chris Tupea took three wickets each.

Bay of Plenty Lakeland senior secondary representative Ryan Neves was in sparkling form with the bat to lead his side to a six-wicket win. The Central Indians opener finished with 78 from 91 balls. Northern Districts batsman Bharat Popli posted a handy 30 not out while Stephen Nicholls scored 20 in the win.

Williams Cup
GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 47 (G Singh 5/19, S Davey 2/10) lost to Element IMF Cadets 48/0 (S Davey 23no)
Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 153 (T Bettleheim 36, T Clarke 29, D Crombie 26, I Singh 22; J Boyd 4/40, S Wineti 2/16, B Hampton 2/20) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 155/5 (T MacRury 44, B Hampton 36no, P Thickpenny 27; C Williams 3/34)
New World Te Puke 167 (B Gilroy 30, C Riley 30, S Crossan 25, D Price 25; J Rowe 3/22, C Tupea 3/37) lost to Bayleys Central Indians 173/4 (R Neves 78, B Popli 30no, S Nicholls 20; M Leef 2/30)
Carrus Mount Maunganui the bye.

Points Table: Greerton 27, Mount Maunganui 21, Central Indians 21, Tauranga Boys' College 9, Cadets 9, Te Puke 3, Lake Taupo CC 3.