Leg-spinning all-rounder Conrad Parkes bowled Whitaker and first-drop Jack Holden (a second-ball duck) en route to taking 3-14 from four overs.
Left-arm paceman Taewa took 2-12 in four overs and fast bowler Patrick McInnes 1-6 from three overs.
McInnes held the catch of the match, the day and maybe the competition at mid-off to dismiss Cave off Taewa, leaping up and backwards one-handed.
The Admiralty’s McInnes and Parkes got to 20 as a pair first-up before the former was bowled by tall, skilful Blues spearhead Brandon Fearnley (3-15 off four overs).
Off-spinner Bjorn Botma, at first-change, snared 3-18 off four overs.
Taewa, at No.3, compiled 35 in 43 balls — a fine innings — but the next best score was Parkes’s 14.
With left-hander Alistair Bryant’s dismissal — bowled by Botma — the Admiralty were all-out for 89 in 17.5 overs. To the end, the game was winnable for both teams.
“It was an awesome outcome for our boys, who worked for that win, and I’m happy for Arthur, who made runs,” Whitaker said.
“Our opening bowlers Brandon and Jack Holden put the pressure on Caleb and his boys from ball one and we fought hard to defend our total.”
Taewa, who like Whitaker, Ted Gillies of the Life Guards and Charlie Whitfield of the King’s Own, proved himself capable of leading by example and trying to win games while involving all of his players in a nine-a-side, shorter version of cricket, remarked: “We came back into the game with the ball after drinks. Overall we did well. It was a difficult wicket to bat on. We just couldn’t quite get there in the end.”
In the playoff for third, King’s Own captain Charlie Whitfield won the toss on Harry Barker Reserve ground No.2 and chose to bat against the Life Guards.
King’s Own reached 123-7 in 20 overs in what proved to be one of the games of the season.
Jack Roberts (19) and Joel Kirkpatrick (17) put on 40 opening up, but with the fall of Kirkpatrick — caught by gloveman Jordan Haley off the leg-spin of Harvey Reynolds (1-17, four overs) — and Jonah Reynolds, stumped first ball from the off-spin bowling of Gillies (2-6, four overs), the landscape changed quickly.
The Kings lost Roberts and Whitfield with the score at 47 but Jack Williams (21) and Cody McMurray (5) put on 24 for the fifth wicket, and Tristan Flamwell (7) and Matt Langford (17 not out) then shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 41.
Flamwell hit some excellent shots and he and Langford ran well between the wickets.
In reply, the Life Guards were bowled out for 79 in 16.3 overs.
In-form all-rounder Harvey Reynolds fell to his older brother Jonah for a second-ball duck — an inswinging leg-cutter.
With left-hander Jordyn Haley out for one, the Guards were 2-3.
No.2 Gillies (18) and second-drop Alex Langford (23), who have improved with the bat this summer, showed some stickability.
But Jack Williams — a Year 9 cricketer who fields well, hits a pulverising cut shot and bowls medium-pace and off-spin with equal facility — chose a good time to showcase his skill as an offie.
Williams took 3-9 from four overs, holding a return catch to account for Taimana Lloyd (3), who batted at seven, to end the game.
“What impressed me the most as captain was the positivity, intensity, and confidence the lads showed in all facets a hard- fought game played in the right spirit,” Whitefield said.
“We saw Matt, Callum and Finnbar totally involved and more than hold their own.
“Matty’s a powerful striker of the ball, Finnbar bowled at good pace, got bounce, held a great catch coming forward at mid-off to dismiss Ted from Matt’s bowling (1-10 off two overs), and Callum swung the ball.”
Life Guards captain Gillies’ sentiments were typical of many.
“We enjoyed playing cricketers close to our age. The games tended to be even. I’ve enjoyed watching my teammates and players in the other teams and improve. We all did.”
