Cricket: Berth in club final lure for Greerton

Greerton batsman Cam Neal and Mount Maunganui wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Clarke may have a say in who wins tomorrow's Baywide Cup final. Photo / File

Eves Realty Greerton will look to become the third Bay of Plenty club to have their name engraved on the Baywide Cup since its inception eight seasons ago when they meet defending title holders Carrus Mount Maunganui in the final at Blake Park tomorrow.

The winner will also represent Bay of Plenty in the ND club champs playoffs for a berth in the New Zealand club finals.

Element IMF Cadets won the inaugural Baywide first round trophy in the 2007/08 season, before Carrus Mount won in the next three seasons. Cadets made no race of the 2012 Baywide Cup winning the first-past-the-post competition by 19 points, from Mount Maunganui.

Two seasons ago Mount Maunganui won the last title race under the same format, before Mount Maunganui and Cadets squared off last year in the inaugural Baywide Cup Grand Final. In what turned out to be one-way traffic, Cadets batted first and were removed for just 160, with Mount Maunganui cruising to victory without the loss of a wicket.

Both Mount Maunganui and Greerton come to Blake Park tomorrow with a number of genuine match winners in their ranks.

Mount Maunganui top-order batsmen Peter Drysdale and Tim Clarke never give up their wickets without a real fight and can be extremely difficult to dislodge. While the Mount will be without ace bowler Tony Goodin, who is on Northern Knights duty, the side have a couple of genuine all-rounders who are equally adept with bat or ball. Last weekend Alex Gooding and Dan Hill both posted half centuries with the bat and they bowl with genuine enthusiasm.

Greerton have a trio of batsmen who can change a game while at the crease. Tom MacRury, Cam Neal and Brett Hampton have all smashed centuries in Baywide Cricket in the last two seasons and can simply take control to blast their side to victory.

Dan Spencer showed his ability with the ball a couple of weeks ago, when he grabbed 7/23, to lead the Baywide Cup bowling honours.

Tommy Clout and Campbell Thomas are both genuine match-winning bowlers.

Baywide Cup
*Final: Carrus Mount Maunganui v Eves Realty Greerton, Blake1, tomorrow 12pm.
*Third place playoff: Element IMF Cadets v City Sports Bar Te Puke, Tauranga Domain, 12pm.
*Past winners: 2007/08: Otumoetai Cadets; 2008/09: Mount Maunganui; 2009/10: Mount Maunganui; 2010/11: Mount Maunganui; 2011/12: Otumoetai Cadets; 2012/13: Mount Maunganui; 2013/14 Mount Maunganui.