Top-of-the-table clash today key to final placings
The Bay of Plenty Cup match between Mount Maunganui and Greerton today is likely to play a big part in deciding the 2020 champion.
While the points table indicates a two-point advantage to Bond & Co Mount Maunganui over Eves Realty Greerton, the Blake Parkbased unit will sit out the lastround bye next weekend, which turns today’s encounter at Pemberton Park into a must-win for Mount Maunganui.
Last season, the Bay of Plenty Cup honours lay firmly with Mount Maunganui who won both battles between the two sides.
The round-robin game was a genuine thriller, coming after the Mount posted 239/9 in their allotted overs.
Peter Drysdale top-scored with 90 runs while current Greerton skipper Lee Watkins grabbed four wickets.
The Greerton reply went down to the wire before the Mount Maunganui bowlers restricted Greerton to seven runs short of the required target. Shane Wineti topscored with 82 runs and Drysdale backed up his batting heroics with three wickets.
Just three weeks later, the two sides squared off again in the Bay of Plenty Cup final.
The Mount again batted first and set their rivals another solid target in reaching 200/7.
Tim Tomlinson and Dominic Crombie both reached the 30s, with James Boyd and Lee Watkins each taking two wickets.
Four-wicket bags from Dale Swan and Chris Atkinson created
havoc in the Greerton reply, which ended when they were bowled out for 117.
Greerton
top-order
batsman
Taylor Bettelheim showed some real defiance to finish with 51 runs in the score book.
Flying Mullet Te Puke lurk in third place with a top-two finish well within their reach. However, standing in their way this weekend are Element IMF Cadets.
Both premier sides come from long-established Western Bay of Plenty Cricket clubs, with the Baker Cup (WBOPCA Challenge
Trophy) on the line, which gives the match at the Te Puke Domain an extra edge.
Bayleys Central Indians will want to cement their top-four spot against Generation Homes Lake Taupo¯ in their game at Smallbone Park. The form book suggests that Central Indians should pick up the win points.
Holland Beckett Law Tauranga Boys’ College have plenty to play for when Craigs Investment Partners Geyser visit Nicholson Field.
A top-four finish is not out of sight, however they would need a big win with bonus points today.