With one round of qualifying play before the Williams Cup playoffs, just four teams remain in contention after Round Six results were posted on Saturday, March 7.

Carrus Mount Maunganui, Rotorua Central and Element Cadets are locked together at the top of the standings, with Eves Realty Greerton still in the running – six points adrift of the leaders.

Photo: file.

Cadets and Greerton engaged in a war of attrition at the Tauranga Domain, before Cadets sneaked home. Greerton took first use of the wicket and were dismissed for 174, with Josh Bates, who recently shifted from Poverty Bay, top scoring with 36. Morgan Bidois was the best of the home team's bowlers taking three wickets for 15 runs with Scott Steward taking two bowling scalps.

With Cadets five down for less than 100 runs, they had plenty of work to do. But Scott Steward dug deep and reached his side's top score of 64 before dismissal. The home side's victory came with just two wickets remaining. Josh Bates showed he will be a useful addition to the Greerton ranks with three wickets.

Mount Maunganui cemented their place at the top of the standings, with an easy win over Tauranga Boys' College at Mount headquarters at Blake Park. Tauranga Boys' won the toss and elected to bat and were removed for just 98, with only Sean Wakelin reaching the twenties. Stand-in captain Dale Swan returned 3/8, with Nick Smith and Dan Hill taking two wickets apiece.

After Mount Maunganui lost an early wicket, 16-year-old Blair McKenzie led the Mount charge for victory with a sterling knock of 62 not out, which included eight fours and three sixes. Opener Nick Smith, in his 18th season of premier cricket for the club, played a patient innings to post an unbeaten 27 – as the home side cruised to a nine-wicket win.

While BOP Indians and Whakatane United lurked at the bottom of the standings, they produced a real thriller at Rex Morepeth Park in Whakatane. The home side batted first in the reduced over encounter and were bowled out for 128. Matt Davies posted unbeaten 26, with Jayvant Dhanjee taking three wickets for BOP Indians. Led by 41 runs from Liam Kelly, the Rotorua visitors got home with one ball to spare, with Brent Sharma returning 4/17 for the home side.

Central won a reduced over affair with defending champions City Sports Bar Te Puke at Smallbone Park in Rotorua. The visitors batted first and were removed for 117. However Central were made to work hard for the victory, losing six wickets on the way.

Bay of Plenty Cricket results, March 7 2015:

Williams Cup (Baywide Premier)

Tauranga Boys' College 98 (Sean Wakelin 22; Dale Swan 3/8, Nick Smith 2/12, Dan Hill 2/34) lost to Carrus Mount Maunganui101/1 (Blair McKenzie 62no, N Smith 27no)

Eves Realty Greerton 174 (Josh Bates 36, Charles Williams 25, Tommy Clout 23; Morgan Bidois 3/15, Scott Steward 2/33) lost to Element IMF Cadets 176/8 (S Steward 64, Ben Christensen 24; J Bates 3/48, Harris Aslam 2/32)

Whakatane United 128 (Matt Davies 26no, Tom Yates 26; Jayvant Dhanjee 3/11, Bipul Das 2/26) lost to BOP Indians 129/8 (Liam Kelly 41no, I Singh 29; Brett Sharma 4/17)

City Sports Bar Te Puke 117 lost to Central 118/6

Points Table

Mount Maunganui 30, Cadets 30, Central 30, Greerton 24, Te Puke 18, BOP Indians 9, Tauranga Boys' College 3, Whakatane United 0.