The 2016 Williams Cup title decider played on Easter Friday (25 March 2016) at the Bay Oval, turned into a marathon with plenty of high drama, before the season finale produced a result in fading light.

New World Te Puke won the toss and asked Carrus Mount Maunganui to bat first, on a wicket, which looked to have plenty of assistance for the bowlers.


Te Puke's Christian MacDonald bowling. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

The Mount opening pair of Matt Golding and Blair McKenzie weathered the early storm, with the defending Williams Cup title holders reaching 44 for two, after the openers had departed.

The introduction of Te Puke medium pacer Christian MacDonald, paid immediate dividends, with Mount Maunganui in real trouble at 65 for the loss of six wickets.

However the Mount tail showed plenty of defiance, with number ten batsmen Kyle Dovey producing his team's top score of 18 runs. An 18 run partnership between Dovey and Luke Tatley, saw Mount Maunganui bowled out for 136.

The first Te Puke wicket fell at the 22 run mark, with Tai Bridgman-Raison who produced the highest score in the match with 20 runs, the next to fall with the scoreboard showing 45/2.

Just after the Te Puke number three batsman was removed without scoring, the rain drifted in, with the players leaving the field for what turned out to be a three-hour break in play.

With the match up for grabs and both sides eager to achieve a result, there was plenty of prowling up and down the Bay Oval pavilion, as the players waited for the drizzle to abate.

Finally around six o'clock the rain stopped, with the umpires scheduling a 6.30pm resumption of the title decider..

A revised target of 86, meant that Te Puke needed 39 to win off 42 balls. Mount Maunganui skipper Nick Smith worked hard with his off spinners to take two wickets, with Te Puke needing two runs off the last ball of the match to claim victory.

The Mount fielders could only watch as the Te Puke batsmen ran two to grab victory.

The Te Puke victory, increased their Williams Cup titles to sixteen, since their first Williams Cup crown in the 1938/39 season.

The end of the Bay of Plenty Cricket 2015/16 season has seen the three Baywide titles shared around. Realty Greerton annexed the Baywide Cup, Element IMF Cadets took out the Baywide T20 title with Te Puke annexing the Baywide big prize of the Williams Cup.

BOPCA Williams Cup Final

Carrus Mount Maunganui 136 (Christian MacDonald 4/15, Alex Gooding 2/20, Brody Gilroy 2/30) lost to New World Te Puke 87/6 (rain adjusted target 86) Nick Smith 2/15)

Kyle Dovey batting for Mount Maunganui.

Chris Atkinson.

Alex Gooding.