With just one round of the Baywide Cup regular season remaining, defending champions Mount Maunganui and Element IMF Cadets look set to battle it out for the title.
Although Cadets failed to grab an outright victory over long-time rivals Eves Realty Greerton, they took control of the 110-over encounter to take a winning draw from the match. Cadets batted first at Pemberton Park and looked on track for a big total with the top order firing. Ben Christensen led from the front with a captain's knock, blasting 114, with Joe Carter reaching 72 before dismissal. Nick Earl continued the Cadets momentum and was rewarded with 75 runs with his team posting a massive 334/7.
The Greerton target of over a run a ball proved too much, with the home side reaching 231/9 in their allotted overs. Cam Neal was the best of the Greerton batting attack with a half century, while Kent Hodder and Brett Hampton both reached the thirties before losing their wicket.
Eighteen wickets fell in a low-scoring thriller in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, between home side East Bay United and Mount Maunganui. East Bay United took first use of the batting strip at Rex Morepeth Park and made a solid start, with opener Stephen Ford in good touch with a patient 49 runs. However, the Mount bowlers went about their task in earnest, removing the Eastern Bay side for what looked to be a modest 132.
Led by ND fast bowler Graeme Aldridge, the home team quickly had the defending champions in trouble. When Mount opener Tim Clarke fell for 27, the Mount were in desperate strife at 88/7. However, a fighting partnership between Alex Gooding (23) and Nick Smith (21no) got them right back in the game, with Mount Maunganui holding on to the win with two wickets to spare.
