Cricket: Tight race enters final stages

Rotorua Central bowler Vaughan Blanchard has been a top performer this season. Photo / George Novak

Tension is building in the race to the semifinals of the Williams Cup in two weeks' time with just two rounds of qualifying rounds remaining.

With a logjam consisting of Carrus Mount Maunganui, Element IMF Cadets, Eves Realty Greerton and Rotorua Central on top of the standings, there is a real incentive to finish in the top two where an extra life in the playoffs is on the line.

The winner of the encounter at the Tauranga Domain between hosts Cadets and Greerton will take a big step towards a home semifinal and another bite of the cherry if beaten in round one of the playoffs.

While the two sides will be without their Bay of Plenty representative players, who are on duty against Poverty Bay in Gisborne, both teams will take strong line-ups on the field at the Tauranga Domain.

Sean Davey who has represented New Zealand at Under-19 level has been the form batsman of Baywide Cricket since returning from injury. A rare T20 century last weekend showcased his talent with the bat, while Ben Christensen has blasted plenty of runs in the Williams Cup.

Greerton's Dan Spencer, who is the only Baywide bowler to grab a seven-wicket bag this season, will lead his team's strike attack along with veteran bowler Murray Jarvis. Another key match is between Central and defending Williams Cup titleholders Te Puke at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. Te Puke lurk just a win away from the top of the table, however a loss to Central would probably consign then to the also-rans.

Two Central bowlers could be their key to victory, with skipper Jason Trembath and Tahir Afridi in the Williams Cup top-four bowling stakes. Te Puke batsmen Tai Bridgman-Raison and Stephen Crossan have both been in good form with the willow.

While Mount Maunganui will be expected to defeat Tauranga Boys' College, the Tauranga students posted three successive wins in the recently completed Baywide T20 competition. The Tauranga Boys' batting line-up will need to be wary of Mount bowler Dan Hill who leads the bowling stakes with 24 scalps.

Whakatane United and BOP Indians, who sit at the bottom of the Williams Cup standings, have both showed good form in the T20 title race.

Williams Cup
*Draw, tomorrow, 12pm: Whakatane United v BOP Indians, Rex Morpeth Park; Central v City Sports Bar Te Puke, Smallbone Park; Element IMF Cadets v Eves Realty Greerton, Tauranga Domain; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Tauranga Boys College, Blake1.
*Points: Mount Maunganui 24, Cadets 24, Central 24, Greerton 24, Te Puke 18, Tauranga Boys College 3, BOP Indians 3, Whakatane United 0.