Baker Cup On The Line At Blake Park On Saturday

Posted: Thursday, 13 October 2016

Baywide Cup - Preview 15th October

The Western Bay of Plenty challenge prize of the Baker Cup, will be on the line at Blake Park on Saturday (15 October 2016) when current holders Carrus Mount Maunganui square off with Eves Realty Greerton. The two sides have a rivalry that dates back to the 1970's, when premier cricket was known as "A" Grade.

Last weekend the two Baywide contenders opened their Baywide Cup campaign in contrasting circumstances. Mount Maunganui set New World Te Puke a big target when posting 264/3, with Ben Musgrave and Mount new recruit Brenton Thompson putting on an unbeaten 149 run partnership. The pair came to the wicket at the 115 run mark and took charge blast the ball to the boundaries.

A rain affected artificial wicket and a late start didn't do Greerton any favours in their match-up with Element IMF Cadets at Waipuna Park. Led by the first five wicket bag of the season from Donavan Deeble, Cadets removed Greerton for 110 and then cruised to a nine wicket win.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College and Cadets, will take a win apiece on the opening day of the season into their clash at the Tauranga Domain. The Tauranga Boys first eleven put on a strong performance to beat the newly combined Bayleys Central Indians team. After bowing the Rotorua visitors out for 152, the Tauranga students got home to a comfortable five wicket victory. Tom Renouf top scored with a solid 42 runs.

However the Tauranga Boys bowlers could have their hands full with a strong Cadets top order on Saturday. Sean Davey led from the front against Greerton top scoring with 63 not out and recent Bay of Plenty representative players Ben Christensen and Scott Steward, are both capable of taking charge of a match with the willow.

Saturday's Baywide Cup second round encounters will be rounded out by the match-up between Te Puke and Central Indians, which will be played at the neutral venue of Blake Park three. Te Puke held on against a determined Mount Maunganui bowling attack to eke out a losing draw in round one and will be fired up to post their first win of the new cricket year.

Central Indians can be expected to improve from their first outing as a combined team, with plenty to like about their performance last week. Co-skipper Andrew Gibbs who is better known as a strike bowler showed his all-round abilities with a hard fought 29 runs batting down the order against Tauranga Boys.

BOPCA Baywide Cup Draw 15 October 2016

New World Te Puke v Bayleys Central Indians, Blake3; Element IMF Cadets v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College; Tauranga Domain; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Eves Realty Greerton, Blake1.

Points Table (Provisional)
Element IMF Cadets 20, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 20, Carrus Mount Maunganui 16,New World Te Puke 8, Bayleys Central Indians 0, Eves Realty Greerton 0.

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