Baywide cricket: Mount Maunganui and Greerton top Williams Cup table

Ben Pomare keeper/batsman was part of a winning Tauranga Boys' College team against Lake Taupo CC. Photo / File

Carrus Mount Maunganui and Eves Realty Greerton cemented their places at the top of the Williams Cup standings on Saturday but in contrasting circumstances.

Greerton hosted New World Te Puke at Pemberton Park with the visitors batting first to set Greerton a solid target after being bowled out for 229. Gareth Wallace top-scored with 53 runs from 86 balls with Tai Bridgman-Raison and Dan Price making solid contributions. Greerton leggie James Boyd was the best of his side's bowling attack, taking 3-45.

The home side were up with the required run rate from the start, with opener Ben Lind posting 43 runs before being dismissed. Lee Watkins and recent Greerton recruit Pip Thickpenny settled down and put on a 154-run partnership to take their side home to an eight-wicket victory. Watkins finished on an unbeaten 68 with Thickpenny posting 67 not out.

Mount Maunganui, missing five first-pick players because of representative commitments and injury, worked hard to reach 147 all out against Bayleys Central Indians at Blake Park. Logan Carr was the best of the Mount batsmen with 35 while veteran all-rounder Nick Smith made his usual handy contribution to his side's total. Jake Rowe finished his allotted overs with 4-17 with Andrew Gibbs and Chris Tupea chiming in with two wickets apiece.

The Rotorua visitors went out to bat full of confidence and at 60 for two were well in the hunt for the win points on offer. The Mount Maunganui bowlers then warmed to their task, led by a four-wicket bag from Smith, and removed Central Indians for 100 to retain their unbeaten start to the Williams Cup.

Led by a sparkling 98 by Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College returning student Taylor Bettleheim, the Tauranga students had a solid win away to GM Painters Lake Taupo CC. Tauranga Boys' were bowled out for 240 before getting home to a 88-run victory. Tasman Carsons was the best of the Tauranga bowlers with 3-25.

Williams Cup
Carrus Mount Maunganui 147 (L Carr 35, N Smith 29, N Byrnes 21; J Rowe 4/17, A Gibbs 2/32, C Tupea 2/38) defeated Bayleys Central Indians 100 (S Nicholls 24; N Smith 4/15, D Swan 3/5, D Radich 2/27)
New World Te Puke 229 (G Wallace 53, T Bridgman-Raison 47, D Price 36; J Boyd 3/45, S Wineti 2/26, L Watkins 2/47) lost to Eves Realty Greerton 234/2 (L Watkins 68no, P Thickpenny 67no, B Lind 42)
Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College 240 (T Bettleheim 98, B Pomare 50) defeated GM Painters Lake Taupo CC 152 (T Carsons 3/25)
Element IMF Cadets the bye

Points Table: Mount Maunganui 21, Greerton 21, Central Indians 15, Tauranga Boys' College 9, Te Puke 3, Cadets 3, Lake Taupo CC 3.