Cricket: Three joint leaders as playoffs loom

New Greerton recruit Josh Bates was in form with bat and ball against Cadets on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

With one round of qualifying play before the Williams Cup playoffs, just four teams remain in contention after round six on Saturday.

Carrus Mount Maunganui, Rotorua Central and Element Cadets are locked together at the top of the standings, with Eves Realty Greerton still in the running six points adrift of the leaders.

Cadets and Greerton engaged in a war of attrition at the Tauranga Domain before Cadets sneaked home. Greerton batted first and were dismissed for 174, with Josh Bates, who recently shifted from Poverty Bay, top scoring with 36. Morgan Bidois was the best of the home team's bowlers, taking 3/15, with Scott Steward taking two scalps.

With Cadets five down for less than 100 they had plenty of work to do but Scott Steward dug deep and reached his side's top score of 64 before dismissal. The home side's victory came with just two wickets remaining.

Bates showed he will be a useful addition to the Greerton ranks with three wickets.

Mount Maunganui cemented their place at the top of the standings with an easy win over Tauranga Boys' College at Blake Park.

Tauranga Boys won the toss and elected to bat and were removed for just 98, with only Sean Wakelin reaching the twenties. Stand-in captain Dale Swan returned 3/8, with Nick Smith and Dan Hill taking two wickets apiece.

After Mount Maunganui lost an early wicket, 16-year-old Blair McKenzie led the Mount charge for victory with a sterling knock of 62 not out, which included eight fours and three sixes.

Opener Nick Smith, in his 18th season of premier cricket for the club, played a patient innings to post an unbeaten 27, as the home side cruised to a nine-wicket win.

While BOP Indians and Whakatane United lurked at the bottom of the standings, they produced a real thriller at Rex Morepeth Park in Whakatane. The home side batted first in the reduced over encounter and were bowled out for 128. Led by 41 from Liam Kelly, the Rotorua visitors got home with one ball to spare with Brent Sharma taking 4/17.

Central won a reduced over affair with defending champions City Sports Bar Te Puke at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. The visitors batted first and were removed for 117. However, Central were made to work hard for the victory, losing six wickets on the way.