Flying Mullet Te Puke has surged to a share of the lead in the Versatile Williams Cup after defeating Element IMF Cadets on Saturday, in an encounter that lasted just 45 overs of the regulation 50 over per side.

Cadets won the toss and elected to bat at home at the Tauranga Domain.

Te Puke's recent recruit, Harsh Patel, removed the Cadets top order with the hosts in all sorts of trouble, at four down with just 31 runs on the board.

Blake Pentecost and Ollie Curtis, who top scored with 17 runs, restored some respectability before their last four batters fell for eleven runs, as the home side were skittled for 83.

Te Puke wasted little time in reaching the target, for the loss of three wickets, in the seventeenth over. Tai Bridgman-Raison was the best of the visitors batting attack with 26 from 24 balls. 

Eves Realty Greerton joined Te Puke at the top of the Williams Cup standings after a hard-fought four wicket victory over Craigs Geyser City in Rotorua.

Geyser City, were bowled out for 131, with Greerton all-rounder Tom MacRury grabbing four wickets for 24 runs. Batting at three, skipper Anish Desai anchored his sides target chase with 44 runs as Greerton got home in the 35th over.

Papamoa moved into third spot on the points table with their fourth victory of their Williams Cup campaign, in defeating Craigs Tauranga Boys' College.

Stu Farquhar and Nikhil Vishwanath, put together a winning partnership of 76 runs, with Farquhar in dominant form with his willow weapon, in belting 76 from 86 balls. Papamoa posted 266 for the loss of nine wickets with Tauranga Boys mentor Scott Curtis taking three wickets.

Tauranga Boys' opener, Sebastian Heath, was in good form in top scoring with 47 runs, while Billy Ramsden and Bryn Roberton both reached the thirties. 

The Papamoa bowlers prevailed in the 41st over, with Tauranga Boys College removed for 165, to give Papamoa a big 101 run win. Paul Inglis was the pick of the winning side bowlers with three wickets at a cost of 27 runs.

BOPCA Versatile Williams Cup February 24 2024

Element IMF Cadets 83 (Mikaere Leef 3/6, Harsh Patel 3/17) lost to Flying Mullet Te Puke 86/3 (Tai Bridgman-Raison 26; Cameron Murray 3/27)

Craigs Geyser City 131 (Tom MacRury 4/24) lost to Eves Realty Greerton (Anish Desai 44, Charles Williams 33)

Papamoa 266/9 (Stu Farquhar 76, Nikhil Vishwanath 43, Andrew Goldsmith 34; Scott Curtis 3/43) defeated Craigs Tauranga Boys' College 165 (Seb Heath 47, Bryn Robertson 37, Billy Ramsden 34; Paul Inglis 3/27)

Bond & Co Mount Maunganui v Generation Homes Lake Taupo - abandoned due to wet wicket.

Central Indians the bye.

Points Table (Provisional) : Te Puke 31, Greerton 31, Papamoa 26, Mount Maunganui 25, Lake Taupo 20, Cadets 17, Geyser City 15, Central Indians 12, Tauranga Boys College 5.