Carrus Mount Maunganui, Element IMF Otumoetai Cadets and Bayleys Central Indians were winners in the opening round of the Williams Cup played on Saturday.

Baywide Champion of Champions Otumoetai Cadets posted a six wicket win over Bond & Co Tauranga Boys' College.

The Tauranga students batted first and were bowled out in the 43^rd over for 143. Batting at four, Niven Dovey top scored with 66, with player/coach Tim Clarke reaching 25.

Aquinas College head boy Fergus Lellman was the best of the Cadets bowlers with 3-35 while skipper Jono Boult, Marcel Collett and Jacob Logan took two wickets each.

Lellman backed up his bowling heroics with a fine 68 not out with Marcel Collett scoring 37.

Mount Maunganui and New World Te Puke enjoyed a rare outing on the Bay Oval international ground.

Te Puke batted first and made a respectable 173. Dan Price top scored with 51 and Tai Bridgman-Raison made 45. Craig Baldry, in his last game for the Mount this season before leaving to Otago for university studies, took four wickets with Nick Smith returning 2-28.

Matt Golding (29) set a solid platform for Mount Maunganui before an unbroken partnership of 94 between Nick Smith (59no) and Nathan Walker (54no) saw their team home to a seven wicket win.

A Stephen Nicholls century led Central Indians to victory against GM Painters Lake Taupo CC at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. The combined side posted 216 and bowled Taupo out for 163.

Williams Cup – Round One

New World Te Puke 173 (D Price 51, Bridgman-Raison 45; C Baldry 4/28, N Smith 2/29) lost to Carrus Mount Maunganui 174/3 (N Smith 59no, N Walker 54no, M Golding 29)

Bond & Co Tauranga Boys' College 143 (N Dovey 66, T Clarke 25; F Lellman 3/35, J Boult 2/21, M Collet 2/2, J Logan 2/30) lost to Element IMF Cadets 144/4 (F Lellman 68no, M Collett 37)

Bayleys Central Indians 216 (Stephen Nicholls 100) defeated GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 163

Eves Realty Greerton the bye

Points: Mount Maunganui 6, Cadets 6, Central Indians 6, Te Puke 0, Tauranga Boys College 0, Lake Taupo CC 0