Carrus Mount Maunganui have booked a Baywide Cup final berth, with one round of qualifying play remaining after defeating archrivals Element IMF Cadets at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday.

Photo: file.

The Mount Maunganui opening batsmen got their side away to a good start reaching 61 without loss. However, the momentum of the match changed in the 12th over, when the Cadets bowlers grabbed three wickets to have the visitors 65/3. Bay of Plenty representative strike bowler Tony Goodin steadied the ship with a hard fought 45 before being bowled by Christian MacDonald.

Mount Maunganui were still in trouble at 151/7 before tailender Dale Swan chipped in with a gritty 21, with the Mount eventually dismissed for 193. Individual honours were taken out by Mount skipper Peter Drysdale top scoring with 65, while Donovan Deeble took four wickets for the home side.

The top of the table clash turned into a real match of attrition, with the second innings ascendancy ebbing and flowing before Cadets were bowled out for 169 to keep the Mount Maunganui unbeaten Baywide Cup record intact. Donovan Deeble backed up his bowling performance with his side's top score of 48, with Tony Goodin taking three wickets for the winners.

Eves Realty Greerton surged into second place on the standings after beating Tauranga Boys' College. The Tauranga students batted first and posted what looked to be a good sized target when they were removed for 206. Hamish Perry posted a solid 43 runs while Campbell Thomas took four wickets for the home team.

Tom MacRury took the game away for Tauranga Boys, blasting a neat 100 runs before being dismissed, with Greerton grabbing a six wicket victory in the 36th over. Kent Hodder provided a solid supporting turn with 46 not out with Hamish Perry taking two wickets for Tauranga Boys.

Whakatane United spent as about much time on the road as they did on the field at the Te Puke Domain against City Sports Bar Te Puke. The Eastern Bay visitors batted first and were rolled for a paltry 90 runs. City Sports Bar Te Puke captain Mitch McCann took 3/8 with Devon Bell and Brody Gilroy taking two wickets apiece. The Te Puke win, which got them into the top four for the first time this season, was an eight wicket stroll in the park victory.

While Mount Maunganui has booked a Baywide Cup Finals berth in two weeks' time, their opponent will be either Greerton or Cadets, which will be decided on results from the last qualifying round next weekend.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Results, November 29

Baywide Cup

Tauranga Boys' College 206 (H Perry 43, M Orchard 39, J Grigson 25, T Renouf 25; C Thomas 4/59, C Williams 2/40, B Hampton 2/41) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 210/4 (T MacRury 100, K Hodder 46no, C Williams 29; H Perry 2/30)

Whakatane United 90 (M McCann 3/8, D Bell 2/12, B Gilroy 2/25) lost to City Sports Bar Te Puke 92/2 (V Wilson 39no)

Carrus Mount Maunganui 193 (P Drysdale 65, T Goodin 45, D Swan 21; D Deeble 4/22, B Christensen 3/37) defeated Element IMF Cadets 169 (D Deeble 48, J Carter 40; T Goodin 3/25)

Central v BOP Indians – result not submitted

Points Table (Provisional) Carrus Mount Maunganui 94.00, Eves Realty Greerton 83.5, Element IMF Cadets 72.00, City Sports Bar Te Puke 54.00, Tauranga Boys' College 38.5, Central 26.5*, Whakatane United 24.5, BOP Indians 15.00* (*result to come)