Rounds five and six of the Baywide Twenty20 Championship produced some thrilling encounters and now we have our finalists.
Defending champions Carrus Mount Maunganui booked their spot when they beat long-time rivals Element IMF Cadets in round six yesterdayafternoon.
After sitting out the round five bye in the morning, the Mount side struggled with the opposition bowling on what turned out to be a bowlers' paradise, being removed for just 56. Dan Smith was the only Mount Maunganui batsman to reach the 20s. Cadets captain Jono Boult took aim with his off-breaks to claim five wickets for 22 runs while Kamal Bains and Jacob Logan took two cheap wickets each.
Cadets were then bowled out for 46, with the second ball of the eighteenth over, as the Mount Maunganui bowlers successfully defended what looked to be a very modest total. The Cadets' top score of 14 showed the dominance of the Mount's slow bowlers. Craig Baldry, who joined Mount Maunganui from Tauranga Boys' College at the start of the season, weaved his magic with the ball to take five wickets at a cost of just 10 runs.
Mount Maunganui will take on Eves Realty Greerton in the title decider next weekend. The Pemberton Park based side were never troubled in their two games at the Fergusson Park in Tauranga, winning both with seven wickets to spare.