VERSATILE WILLIAMS CUP AND BOP PLATE SEMI FINALS PREVIEW

Posted: Friday, 18 March 2022

The results are in and the top 4 teams going into the Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup semi final have been confirmed.

Top of the table Bayleys Central-Indians remain in poll position and will take on the Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets at home in Rotorua - the winner will proceed straight to the final while the other team will have another crack in the elimination final.

Despite a 31 run loss to a buoyant Generation Homes Lake Taupo side on the weekend, and missing their Bay of Plenty Representative players, the Cadets will have their eyes firmly on the top prize after being runners up last season.
The Central Indians have only lost one game this seasons Williams Cup, against the Cadets won by 5 wickets in Round 7. Captain Julian Danby will be key with the notable absences of Central's leading run scorer this season Nadeera Nawela, experienced campaigner Steve Nicholls and Sam Lund - who is making his debut for Bay of Plenty this weekend. They will also be without player/coach Anish Desai who is away on representative cricket duties.

Over at Te Puke Domain The Flying Mullet Te Puke prems are taking on 4th placed (and defending champions) Bond & Co Mount Maunganui.

The last time these old foes met was in round 8 where Te Puke won by 51 runs after bowling Mount Maunganui out for 126. But as the current cup holders the Marlins will do everything in their power to keep the cup locked away with the other silverware collected over the season.

Te Puke has the competition's top run scorer in their midst with Tai Bridgman-Raison racking up 354 runs this far in the tournament with an average of 59. While Mikaere Leef is 2nd in the bowling stakes with 13 wickets at an average of 11.38 in his 5 games for Te Puke.

It's a quick turnaround for the elimination final between the loser of the Central Indians vs Cadets and the winner of Te Puke vs Mount Maunganui will be held on Sunday.

BOP PLATE

While the top 4 battle it out for the Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup, 5 to 8 will be playing for the BOP Plate.

Nicholson Field will play host to 5th placed Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College who are coming up against 8th placed Craigs Investment Partners Geyser City.

These teams haven't played each other since round 1 back in January where Tauranga Boys comfortably won by 7 wickets. Since then Geyser City have shown moments of brilliance and will have to be at the top of their game against a Tauranga Boys side that has gone from strength to strength this season. Notable performances from Harsh Patel who has snagged 13 wickets at an economy rate of 4.63 in the round robin, placing him at number 3 in the bowling ranks and Tim Clarke who has 189 runs to his name in the Williams Cup this season.

Tauranga Boys will however be missing their top run scorer in Seb Heath who has been rewarded with a call up to the Bay of Plenty Representative team at the age of 15 (taking his place as the 4th youngest ever representative between Kane Williamson and Mathew Hart).

Eves Realty Greerton will play Papamoa at Pemberton Park to see who will move onto the BOP Plate final.

Greerton came in at 6th in the Williams cup after winning 50% of their round robin games. Papamoa placed 7th but with only 1 win out of 8 games to their name. The two teams met only last week where Greerton came out on top, winning by 46 runs.

Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup – Semi Finals 19th March
Bayleys Central Indians vs Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets - Smallbone Park
The Flying Mullet Te Puke vs Bond & Co Mount Maunganui - Te Puke Domain

Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup – Elimination Final 20th March
TBC vs TBC

Williams Cup Champions (2000 – 2021)
2021 (Mount Maunganui) 2020 (Greerton) 2019 (Otumoetai Cadets) 2018 (Greerton) 2017 (Otumoetai Cadets) 2016 (Te Puke) 2015 (Mount Maunganui) 2014 (Te Puke) 2013 (Mount Maunganui) 2012 (Greerton) 2011 (Mount Maunganui) 2010 (Cadets) 2009 (Tauranga Boys College) 2008 (Mount Maunganui) 2007 (Rotorua Central) 2006 (Cadets) 2005 (Cadets) 2004 (Te Puke) 2003 (Cadets) 2002 (Albion) 2001 (Te Puke) 2000 (Arawa-Central United)

BOP Plate Semi Finals - 19 March
Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys College vs Craigs Investment Partners Geyser City - Nicholson Field
Eves Realty Greerton vs Papamoa - Pemberton Park

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