Cricket: Central come up short in showdown

Central's Ryan Pedley (pictured) top-scored for his side with 33 in the final of the Baywide T20 competition. Photo / File

Rotorua's Bayleys Central have fallen just short of defending their Baywide T20 title, losing to Otumoetai Cadets in the final.

Both teams played well to progress to the final on Saturday at Blake Park in Tauranga, but Cadets were far too strong in the title decider, winning by eight wickets with plenty of overs to spare.

It was Cadets' first piece of Baywide silverware since they won the Baywide Cup in 2011. They also went undefeated throughout the smash-and-bash T20 competition this season.

Central - who won the T20 title in 2014 and 2015 - batted first and were restricted to 104/8 as they lost wickets regularly during their 20 overs.

English visitor Ryan Pedley held the innings together to top-score with 33 runs. Ben Christensen was the best of the Cadets bowlers, grabbing three wickets, with James Birchall taking two scalps.

Cadets took control from the start of their turn at bat and were easily ahead of the required run rate from the first couple of overs. Cadets all-rounder Donavan Deeble set up the victory with a quick-fire 44, with skipper Scott Steward posting an unbeaten 35.

Victory came in the 11th over with eight wickets to spare.

Earlier in the day, during the final round before the finals, Central had a great battle with fellow Rotorua team Bay of Plenty Indian Sports.

Central reached 123/8, Graeme Whiles top-scoring with 38 runs, while GS Gargan and LS Bhatti took four wickets apiece for the Indian side.

The match went down to the wire, with Indian Sports needing 10 runs from the last over to deny Central a berth in the final but line-and-length bowling allowed them just four runs.

-Lonestar Baywide T20 grand final:

Bayleys Central 104/8 (Ryan Pedley 33; Ben Christensen 3/19, James Birchall 2/29) lost to Cadets 106/2 (Donovan Deeble 44, Scott Steward 35no)