Cricket: Baywide top of the table clash

Mount keeper Tim Clarke was one of two Western Bay batsmen to blast centuries in the last round of the Baywide Cup.

T20 front runners Rotorua Central take on second placed Elements IMF Cadets in the longer version at home while defending champions Mt Maunganui sit in the box seat as the Baywide Cup returns to centre stage in Bay of Plenty premier cricket.

This weekend's competition is on the home straight towards a declaration for the 2014 titleholder at the Baywide Cup finals day on December 13.

Currrent Baywide T20 leaders Central meet Tauranga Domain-based Cadets at Smallbone Park in what could be a game of attrition.

Central sit well down the Baywide Cup points table and will want to get their cup campaign back on track against the Western Bay visitors.

With three rounds left to play the Mount, who have won the Baywide title five times in eight years, are in the box seat.

They will want to keep their unbeaten record intact in the current title chase when they square off with Tauranga Boys' College at Nicholson Field tomorrow.

Mount keeper Tim Clarke was one of two Western Bay batsmen to blast centuries in the last round of the Baywide Cup when he posted a sparkling 138 runs against Whakatane United.

Tauranga Boys' sit in the top four and should give the visitors from the other side of the harbour bridge a good battle in the chase for the win points on offer.

Player/coach Mark Orchard and Gareth Wallace are in-form batsmen with Harrison Perry making his mark with the ball.

Second placed Element IMF Cadets are the only other team to have their name engraved on the Baywide Cup trophy.

Eves Realty Greerton batsman Tom MacRury leads the Baywide Cup batting stakes after smashing 171 in round four of the competition.

Greerton visit Rex Morpeth Park in Whakatane to meet Whakatane United tomorrow.

Whakatane United also have a master blaster in their ranks in skipper Alex Yates who, when on song with the bat, is almost unstoppable.

With 15 points on offer in the Baywide Cup for an outright victory there is still the opportunity for sides who sit down the table, and grab a spot in the top two.

City Sports Bar Te Puke will have targeted their match with BOP Indians to make a serious move up the ladder.

BOP Indians sit at the bottom of the standings but have a number of genuine playmakers in their ranks and are capable of providing an upset.

Draw Baywide Cup (November 22)

Central v Element IMF Cadets, Smallbone Park; BOP Indians v City Sports Bar Te Puke, Boord Park; Whakatane United v Eves Realty Greerton, Rex Morepeth Park; Tauranga Boys College v Carrus Mount Maunganui, Nicholson Field.

Points Table: Carrus Mount Maunganui 61, Element IMF Cadets 54, Eves Realty Greerton 50.5 Tauranga Boys College 38.5, Te Puke 28, Whakatane United 24.5, Central 23.5, BOP Indians 7.