The logjam at the top of the William's Cup standings continues after resulted were posted on Saturday, with Cadets, Greerton, Mount Maunganui and Central all on 24 points – and just two games of round robin play before the semi-finals.

Photo: file.

Multiple William's Cup titleholders Element IMF Cadets moved into the box seat for a home semi-final when they beat longtime rivals City Sports Bar Te Puke at Tauranga Domain.

Led by a solid 74 from opening batsmen Tom Boorman, the home side posted a big target in reaching 255/9 in their 50 overs. Cadets all-rounder Donovan Deeble reached 38 before dismissal, with tail ender Christian MacDonald chipping in with a handy 24 not out.

Te Puke were always under pressure from the Cadets bowlers, with skipper Ben Christensen leading the way to finish with figures of three wickets at a cost of 25 runs. While Mitch McCann top scored with 38 runs and Stephen Crossan posted a handy 33 – the lack of real partnerships cost Te Puke as they were removed for 167. Te Puke now face a battle to make the playoffs after the Cadets loss dropped them down the standings into fifth place.

In the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the Whakatane United bowlers cleaned bowled seven Carrus Mount Maunganui batsmen to remove the current Baywide champion of champions for 178. Dan Hill top scored for the visitors with 36, while four Whakatane United bowlers were rewarded with two wickets apiece.

The game was headed for the wire with the home side needing 30-odd runs in the last seven overs, with three wickets in hand. However, the Mount slow bowlers tightened the screws to remove the Eastern Bay side 22 runs short of victory. Dale Swan returned 4/33 with Nick Smith taking three wickets.

Rotorua Central remain in contention after an easy win over BOP Indians in a Rotorua derby at Smallbone Park. BOP Indians mustered just 85 in their turn at bat with Central cruising to an eight-wicket win. Central captain Jason Trembath took his team to victory with an unbeaten half century.

Eves Realty Greerton continued their quest to add the Williams Cup to the Baywide Cup they won earlier in the season, when they met Tauranga Boys' College at Nicholson Field. Batting first Greerton posted 233 all out with Cam Neal the best of the Greerton batsmen with 41.

Tauranga Boys' made a promising start with Luke Aldersley reaching 38 before being dismissed. However, the Greerton bowlers up the ante to remove the Tauranga students for 169. The standout Greerton bower was Harris Aslam, who is at Ben William's Cricket Academy for the summer, taking six wickets for 27 runs.

William's Cup results, January 14, 2015:

Element IMF Cadets 255/9 (Tom Boorman 74, Donovan Deeble 38, Christian MacDonald 24no) defeated City Sports Bar Te Puke 167 (Mitch McCann 38, Stephen Crossan 33; Ben Christensen 3/25, D Deeble 2/23, Nick Earl 2/34)

Eves Realty Greerton 233 (Cam Neal 41, Brett Hampton 37, Richie Earl 27; Mark Orchard 3/54, Harrison Perry 2/33, K Bains 2/44) defeated Tauranga Boys' College 169 (Luke Aldersley 38, H Perry 25; Harris Aslam 6/27, Shane Wineti 2/17)

Carrus Mount Maunganui 178 (Dan Hill 36, Tim Clarke 23; Alex Yates 2/27, David Brent 2/33, S Cameron 2/34, Joel Mathews 2/34) defeated Whakatane United 156 (Dale Swan 4/33, Nick Smith 22)

BOP Indians 85 (Yohann Irani 37) lost to Central 86/2 (Jason Trembath 50)

William's Cup Points Table

Mount Maunganui 24, Cadets 24, Central 24, Greerton 24, Te Puke 18, Tauranga Boys' College 3, BOP Indians 3, Whakatane United 0.