"We are about three points above Tech and we'll be playing at Anderson Park [Havelock North]," said Havelock coach Derek Stirling after Ketel (18 not out) and Astill (83no) put on 73 for the last wicket as the villagers teetered at 109-9 before finishing with 184-9 in 55 overs.
"It was a half decent total so that was the saving of the game," Stirling said after skittling CHB for 87 in 28.3 overs.
"It was Ketel's highest total in 97 premier games and only the second six he has hit in his entire life," he said, revealing his previous highest as a rabbit was 11.
But the right-arm medium pacer wasn't done, claiming 6-48 from 12.3 overs, including two maidens.
Another veteran, Sam Prescott, 39, claimed 2-15 from 10 overs, including three maidens.
"The blokes from mid-to-late 30s showed the way so the young need to watch and learn," said Stirling, countering CHB claims that the Frimley wicket wasn't of premier condition.
The Hastings council, he said, had gone out of its way to ensure the pitch was of standard but, again, the batting was generally substandard although better than the previous Saturday.
The wicket at Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga, wasn't ready because of a broken roller while Anderson Park is the venue of an arts exhibition.
Defending champions NTOB crushed Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall by seven wickets in Hastings.
The hosts, sitting last on the table, can't buy a win after posting another paltry total of 64 with veteran Jono Hall top scoring with 24 and NTOB skipper Liam Rukuwai claiming a five-wicket bag.
Left-hand opener Josh Paerau scored 35 runs as NTOB overhauled the target with 68-3 in nine overs.
"I've been coaching Josh for about seven years now and I've never seen him hit the ball better," said NTOB coach Dale Smidt, pleased with the win considering they had lost three key players to Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay for the Chapple Cup campaign at Nelson Park, Napier.
Son Stevie Smidt is out for at least three more games while recuperating from a 12-month elbow ailment.
Dale Smidt had no qualms with the Cornwall wicket which left batsmen red-faced the previous round.
"Cornwall lost three wickets at cover because batsmen were not [on the crease] long enough."
United Travel Taradale have a chance of levelling with CHB to secure third place this Saturday on a better average.
Dale at home thrashed The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist by 143 runs on the foundation of a dejected Bay rep batsman Callum Hewetson who was unbeaten on 125 off 136 balls, including 13 boundaries and two sixes.
"Hew proved Hawke's Bay wrong," said Taradale player/assistant coach Tim Gruijters of Hewetson who became 13th man for the Chapple Cup tourney on Saturday but was recalled.
Gruijters said Bay's loss turned out to be Dale's gain.
"We have proved a lot of people wrong this season because Taradale are looking good," said the Dutchman in his rookie summer here.
