Sandhu century leads Blue to victory
CRICKET
A Bikram Sandhu century was a highlight of the Classic Builders divisions one to three first round competitions , which were completed on Saturday .
Indeed two Te Puke teams are sitting in prominent positions on the standings at the halfway stage of the season.
Te Puke Blue posted an impressive target when they reached 275 for the loss of just three wickets.
Batting at four, Bikram Sandhu hit a neat unbeaten century off just 86 balls.
An 85 run partnership between Sandhu and Gagandeep Singh (53) put their side in the box seat.
Three wickets from GS Maan led the charge as Tauranga Boys were removed for 161.
With the final bonus points to be added, Te Puke Blue sit third on the standings after they beat Tauranga Boys’ College.
The Papaomas finished with their second win of the regular season, when they easily dispatched longtime rivals Mount Maunganui.
Half centuries from Stu Farquhar and David Babbage took the Pa¯pa¯moa side to 191/9.
Vice-captain Rob Inglis led from the front with a five wicket bag, returning bowling figures of 5/35, as the Mount were bowled out for 105.
Pa¯pa¯moa Kings re-inked their status as one of the favourites for Reserve Grade championship honours, in a 156 run victory over Hawks.
The Pa¯pa¯moa side were bowled out for 250, with Hawks opening bowler, Davinder Khaila, taking five wickets.
The Kings bowlers strangled their opponents, removing them with just 94 runs on the board.
With four rounds remaining before the top six are split off to contest the WBOPCA Reserve Grade Championship, Pa¯pa¯moa Kings are second on the standings which are decided by points average.
A second Pa¯ pa¯ moa Reserve Grade bowler picked up five wickets in his side’s match-up with Katikati. Tony Young returned 5/19 as the Pa¯pa¯moa opponents were dismissed for 157.
The Katikati bowling attack removed Pa¯pa¯moa 59 runs short of their target.
Pa¯ pa¯ moa skipper Brad Harding top scored with 37 runs.
A final addition of bonus points in the Classic Builders Division Two First Round competition could elevate Te Puke Chara Panjab to the top of the final finishing positions, after they put away top placed Albion on Saturday.
Te Puke reached 156 for four wickets then removed Albion for 112 to claim a 44 run win.
In other games, Te Puke premier top order batsman Blair Mckenzie was presented with his Bay of Plenty representative ‘baggy’ cap on December 4 at the Bay Oval. The highly sought after cap is awarded to Bay of Plenty representative players on the occasion of playing their 25th game for the provincial team.
Mckenzie, who carries BOPCA player number 543 on to the field of play with much pride, made his Bay of Plenty debut against Poverty Bay in the ND T20 tournament, in December 2018.
Making the presentation to Blair, was longtime Bay of Plenty age-group coach and Te Puke premier team mentor, Peter Swan, prior to Bay of Plenty meeting Hamilton in a ND Brian Dunning trophy one-day game. ■
WBOPCA Results Classic Builders Reserve Grade
Pa¯ pa¯ moa Kings 250 (Dilraj Singh 44, Aman Mahal 35, Jasdeep Sidhu 34, Amritpal Singh 32; Davinder Khaila 5/50) defeated Hawks 94 (Girbur
Singh 3/19)
Katikati 157 (Tony Young 5/19) defeated Pa¯ pa¯ moa 99 (Brad Harding 37) Te Puke v United Indians — not played due to wet pitches/outfield
Classic Builders Division One
Te Puke Blue 275/3 (Bikram Sandhu 100no, Gagandeep Singh 53) defeated Tauranga Boys’ College 161 (GS Maan 3/43)
Papaomas 191/9 (Stu Farquhar 68, David Babbage 58) defeated Mount Maunganui 105 (Rob Inglis 5/35)
Classic Builders Division Two
Te Puke Charda Panjab 156/4 (Gurpreet Singh 54, Ryan Crossley 45no) defeated Albion 112 (Ryan Crossley 4/31).