Cricket: Three look top contenders in T20

Mount Maunganui batsman Mark Divehall made 41 in his side's loss to Greerton. Photo/File

Mount Maunganui, Central and Eves Realty Greerton are likely to fight out the Lonestar Baywide T20 title in two weeks' time after round five and six results on Saturday.

The battle between the two unbeaten sides in the round robin series resulted in Greerton defeating arch rivals Mount Maunganui on Ferguson Park 3. Greerton batted first and set the Mount a reasonable target, when they reached 133/6 with Richie Earl and Shane Wineti both posting 27 runs, while Toby Pudney and Nick Smith took two wickets each.

Line and length bowling from Greerton kept the Mount run-rate below the required rate, with Mount Maunganui finishing their turn at bat at 112/5. Mark Divehall top scored with 41 with Dan Spencer and Richie Earl taking two wickets each.

BoP Indians posted their first victory of the T20 competition in a high scoring encounter with Whakatane United. The Rotorua side reached 167/4 and while Whakatane United made a good bid for victory, the BoP Indian bowlers removed their opponents for 147.

Other round five winners were Central, who got past defending T20 titleholders Tauranga Boys' College, while Element IMF Cadets defeated City Sports Bar Te Puke.

Central remained in contention for a finals berth when they defeated Greerton in a match that went down to the wire. Greerton again batted first and reached 116/7 with Richie Earl, who was celebrating the arrival of his first child the previous day, again top scoring with an unbeaten 29. Central got home with just two wickets to spare, to see the Rotorua team finish the day in equal second place with Greerton.

Mount Maunganui rebounded from their sole defeat in the T20 round robin play, with a ten wicket victory over BoP Indians to lead the competition standings. Cadets made it two in a row when they defeated Whakatane United in a close run affair, while Tauranga Boys' College beat Te Puke.