The business end of the season has arrived in the time honoured Williams Cup, with the top four qualifiers squaring off in the Baywide semi-finals today.

The Baywide trophy dates backs eighty years, when the Rotorua City Cricket Club first annexed the Williams Cup in the 1932/1933 season. For a number of decades the Williams Cup was a challenge trophy before becoming the symbol of Baywide Premier cricket superiority.

Last Saturday, March 10 Platinum Pacific Mount Maunganui and Element IMF Cadets, earned the right to host home semi-finals finishing first equal on the points standings. However Mount Maunganui finished as top qualifier by virtue of defeating Cadets in round robin play.

Mount Maunganui will meet fourth qualifier Eves Realty Greerton at Blake Park, with Cadets squaring off against Tauranga Boys College at the Tauranga Domain.

Defending Williams Cup champions Mount Maunganui have been one of the powerhouses in Baywide cricket in recent seasons. They have a strong batting line-up with the Bay representatives Peter Drysdale and Bharat Popli in their ranks. Skipper Daniel Hill is a genuine all rounder with quick bowler Tony Goodin having pace to burn.

Greerton, who last had their name on the long-time Baywide silverware in the 1984/85 season, are ready for their biggest challenge of the season.

However to beat the defending champions, will require captain Craig Budd and the other top order batsmen to build a solid platform at the top of the innings. The Greerton side also have two Bay of Plenty match winning all rounders, in Brett Hampton and Shane Wineti, who are real class with both bat and ball.

Cadets who have won the Williams Cup nine times in the last two decades will face the 2009 Baywide champions Tauranga Boys' College at Blake Park.

Bay of Plenty captain Jono Boult will be a key element in Cadets quest for a tenth Baywide crown. Boult who is another equally adept with both bat and ball, set new season bowling figures for the Bay of Plenty representative team, capturing 33 wickets in nine games. New Zealand Under-19 team members Joe Carter and Sean Davey should also give the Tauranga Boys side plenty to think about.

Tauranga Boys' batsmen Cameron Neal, has blasted over two hundred runs in the 2012 Williams Cup preliminary rounds, with Tom Clout having taken a six wicket bag in Baywide cricket this season. Another Tauranga Boys' player who is capable of asserting plenty of pressure on Cadets is team mentor Mark Orchard.

Williams Cup Semi-Final Draw 17 March 2012

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui v Eves Realty Greerton, Blake1; Element IMF Cadets v Tauranga Boys College, Tauranga Domain.

Williams Cup Points Table (Final)

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 36, Element IMF Cadets 36, Tauranga Boys College 30, Eves Realty Greerton 24, East Bay United 18, Te Puke 18, Central 6, BOP Indians 0.