Bond & Co Mount Maunganui will be Flying Mullet Te Puke opponents in the Bay of Plenty Cup final, after a dramatic day where both Mount Maunganui and Element IMF Cadets had the opportunity to reach the title decider.

The pendulum swung very much in Mount Maunganui’s favour, after Cadets were bowled out for a modest 137 by Sanford Wall Lawyers Central Indians, at the Tauranga Domain on the weekend.

The hosts were in early trouble at three down with just 26 runs on the board.

Newly selected New Zealand Under 19 player, Sam Clode, and Sam Clegg put on a middle-order rescue with a 57 run partnership. Sam Clode top-scored with a gritty 46, with Cadets having plenty of work to do with the ball, to take out a required outright victory.

Cadets bowlers Spencer Wills and Cameron Murray were equal to the task with both taking four wickets bags, as the Rotorua side was bowled out for 109.

There were frequent electronic checks on the Cadets progress by the Mount side at Blake Park, with the home team in some trouble at 86/5, against Papamoa.

Enter Mount veteran Matt Golding and bowler Craig Baldry. Matt dug in and was rewarded with 47 not out with Craig opening his wings to belt an unbeaten 58 from 47 balls.

Mount Maunganui chanced their arm in search of an outright victory in declaring at 201 for the loss of six wickets.

The Mount Maunganui opening bowlers blunted the Papamoa reply. Fourth change, Gus Tustin, wrapped up the Papamoa tail in taking three wickets for just 4 runs, while Tony Goodin and Craig Baldry each took a brace.

Papamoa were drilled out for 86, in the 34th over, to give Mount Maunganui a shot at winning their ninth Bay of Plenty Cup in 17 seasons.

Eves Realty Greerton big puncher, Tom MacRury, was at his majestic best as he smashed his way to his second century of the season, against Craigs Investment Partners Tauranga Boys College.

Tauranga Boys number three, Sam Cross, worked hard in posting his sides best score with 85 not out as the students were bowled out for 190. James Boyd took four for 40 for the yellow and Black brigade.

Tom made an early entrance and proceeded to take aim on the Pemberton Park boundaries. He smacked 101 from only 58 balls, with eleven 4’s and five 6’s, including putting a large dent on a vehicle parked on Fraser Street.

Greerton took the maximum twenty points on offer with the win coming in just the 25th over.

Craigs Investment Partners Geyser City, finished a highly meritorious fourth place, after defeating Generation Homes Lake Taupo by 170 runs. English player Alexander Roy scored a century with 104 from 137 balls.

Bay of Plenty Coastland added the ND Rangatahi Emerging (Under 19 Men) Players title, last week, to the two 2023 Rangatahi Youth crowns won by Bay of Plenty sides, in Northern Districts Age-Group competition this season. 

While beaten by Hamilton in their final stanza, they accumulated enough points through six straight wins to share the ND title with the Waikato City side.

Bayleys Bay of Plenty Cup – December 9 2023

Bond & Co Mount Maunganui 201/6 dec (Craig Baldry 58no, Matt Golding 47no, Michael Burns 3/36) defeated Papamoa 86 (Keagan Bromilow 30, Gus Tustin 3-4)

Craigs Investment Partners Geyser City 238/8 dec (Alexander Roy 104, Gordon O’Donoghue 53, Roger Urbahn 3/50, AJ How 3/68) defeated Generation Homes Lake Taupo 68 (Ben Astwood 3/16, Ben Dyson 3/28)

Craigs Investment Partners Tauranga Boys College 190 (Sam Cross 85no, James Boyd 4/40, Loughie Keaney 3/61) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 194/4 (Tom MacRury 101; Jake Stott 3/47)

Element IMF Cadets 137 (Sam Clegg 46, Sam Clode 32, Ben Holt 3/33) defeated Sanford Wall Lawyers Central Indians 109 (Spencer Wills 4/28, Cameron Murray 4/25)

Te Puke the bye.

Bayleys Bay of Plenty Cup Standings (Final)

Te Puke 107, Mount Maunanui 93, Cadets 90, Geyser City 85, Greerton 72, Central Indians 48, Papamoa 46, Lake Taupo 44, Tauranga Boys College 25.

ND Emerging Rangatahi (Under 19) Men’s Tournament @ Gisborne, 11-15 Dec

Final Points: Bay of Plenty Coastland 24, Hamilton 24, Waikato Valley 20, Northland 16, Counties Manukau 12, Bay of Plenty Lakeland 4, Poverty Bay 4, ND Maori 4.