Williams Cup Preview 4th March

Posted: Thursday, 2 March 2017

Top Of The Table Williams Cup Clash At Blake Park On Saturday

The big Williams Cup matchup this Saturday (4 March 2017) is the top of the table clash between Carrus Mount Maunganui and Element IMF Cadets at Blake Park.

The Baywide encounter is the fourth time the two long-time Williams Cup heavyweights have met this season, with a fifth encounter likely, in the Bay of Plenty Cricket time honoured trophy playoffs.

Entering the Williams Cup second meeting between the two sides - Mount Maunganui have the upper hand in the bragging rights stakes, losing the first game and winning the next two encounters.

Cadets won the first Baywide Cup match where they posted 151 all out, with Scott Steward top scoring with 50 runs and then restricted Mount Maunganui to 142/5, to claim first blood between the two archrivals. Blair McKenzie took individual batting honours for the Mount with 49 runs.

The second Baywide Cup was a low scoring affair. Led by a five wicket bag from Mount Maunganui captain Dale Swan, the Mount bowled Cadets out for 94 and then got home with five wickets to spare.

Mount Maunganui grabbed successive victories in their first Williams Cup match. The Mount set a solid target after being bowled out for 220, with Ben Guild top scoring with 60 runs. Cadets bowler Kamal Bains was in good form returning 3/31. Cadets were removed for 155, to hand Cadets a 65 run win.

With Mount Maunganui and Cadets already guaranteed post section spots, Eves Realty Greerton can book a berth in the playoffs if they beat defending Williams Cup champions New World Te Puke, at the Te Puke Domain.

Both teams have a high quality batsman apiece in their lineup. Te Puke batsman Tai Bridgman-Raison sits in second place in the Williams Cup batting stakes with 285 runs and the season’s highest score of 174. Greerton captain Shane Wineti lurks in fourth place in the batting stakes with 235 runs.

Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College travel to the Sulphur City to play Bayleys Central Indians at Smallbone Park. Both sides sit outside the top four but have shown enough during the season to suggest a good battle at Rotorua Cricket headquarters.

BOPCA Williams Cup 4 March 2017
Bayleys Central Indians v Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College, Smallbone Park; New World Te Puke v Eves Realty Greerton, Te Puke Domain; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Element IMF Cadets, Blake1.

Williams Cup Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 46, Element IMF Cadets 46, Eves Realty Greerton 40, New World Te Puke 22, Bayleys Central Indians 15, Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys College 10.

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