Tech bowler Ross Kinnerley nearly grasps United batsman Gerard Hobbs' straight hit at Victoria Park on Saturday.
Property Brokers United went a long way to securing their first Coastal Challenge Cup semifinal berth while defending champions St Johns Tech now have a long row to hoe after a 67 run loss at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The penultimate round of the competition saw some key matchups with all the Whanganui and Horowhenua-Kapiti teams playing amongst themselves, with included games between the squads in the Top 4 while the teams in fifth and sixth spot were able to make up ground by playing the bottom two.
This included Matt Burke Engineering Marton Saracens, who wrapped up a comfortable 79 run victory over winless Marist at Centennial Park.
Playing a flat track No1 Tasman Tanning pitch, which suited the fact that the departure of key university players has left them with a predominantly spin-based attack, United's win was built on a superb century by the returning Tom Lance, then Ritesh Verma (4-26) removing all the Tech dangermen at the top of the order to have them 57-4 when chasing 248-8.
Tech's bowlers had brought their team back into contention with some good bowling after Lance fell to catch off Akash Gill (2-37) in the 38th over, having worked with Matt Boswell (17) and Greg Smith (59) to have his team perched at 191-3.
Lance hit 16 boundaries in his 112 off 122 balls.
"I was seeing them pretty well, certainly by the end of it," he said.
"Haven't batted in the middle [of the innings] for a while, it was a pretty flattened out pitch."
However, after that only Brendon Walker (20) was able to make headway, besides a Verma (13 not out from eight balls) cameo at the death, as Nick Harding (2-48) and a conservative Ross Kinnerley (33 runs from his 10 overs) were able to keep United under 250.
However thoughts of Tech turnaround were stymied by Verma as Fraser Kinnerley and Akash Gill did not read two good deliveries and were bowled.
Bevan Hunter (23) replied with a couple of well struck boundaries as he and captain Dominic Lock (56) set about salvaging the innings, before Verma caught up with Hunter who left disgusted with himself after losing his castle at 34-3.
Jessica Watkin got low to hoist a good six off Verma, but when she tried it again off his next over she had not picked the subtle variation and top edged it for Lance at slip.
Kane Watkin (25) began to work carefully with Lock as they faced the spin of Dylan Martin, Robbie Power (2-35) and then Lance (3-26), with United making calculations for who would take the latter overs after Verma pulled a leg muscle while fielding and was noticeably limping.
Watkin pushing at a Power delivery saw him race in for a quick catch, while Ross Kinnerley came and went quickly to a Lance LBW.
This brought out the remaining hope in Nick Harding (43), saved until No8, and while United put fielders back on the boundary the big hitter backed himself to clear them by striking five sixers - all of which sailed over the heads of despairing rope-riders.
Harding punished Martin near the end of his ten overs, but then Tech's hopes nose dived after Lock tried a hard pull shot for a boundary, only for veteran Gerard Hobbs to dive full extension and take a brilliant catch off Lance.
Harding had to go for it as he lost Tyler Lock in short order, needing 72 off 60 balls as Hobbs came onto bowl and Lance switched ends.
Surviving one dropped catch, Harding's defiant innings came to an end shortly after to lift United's tension after he played a dirt-tracker from Lance back onto the stumps.
Caleb Greene was caught next over and United were safe in the Top 2 heading into the final round clash with leaders Wereroa.
Lance said so long as Harding had been there, the match was in the balance.
"We had to find some overs from someone, Danger [Hobbs] did a pretty good job."
"Ritesh nicked them off at the top."
It sets up next weekend's clash with Wereroa, a game which brings back painful memories for United as they narrowly lost the corresponding match in identical circumstances down at the Domain last year to plunge from second to fifth on the table and miss the playoffs.
Their points tally is slightly better this year but Lance had no interest in the calculators deciding their fate if they lose again.
"We won't take that to chance. We won't die wondering."
In Marton, the home side completed the cycle of beating all their fellow Whanganui club teams on the back of an impressive 272-6 against an unhappy Marist side, who at least had a full XI this week.
Despite losing Jason Harris early, Hamish Harding (44) worked in with Craig Clare, who made an excellent 93 not out from 99 balls before just running out of overs to secure his maiden Marton century.
Support came from around the order as Dominic Rayner (32), Oliver Gordon (19), Dan Ford (24) and Josh Trillo (14 not out) all shared in handy partnerships with Clare, who would hit 11 boundaries.
Marist used eight bowlers at the crease, with Zak O'Keeffe having economical figures with just 19 runs from his ten overs, including four maidens.
In reply, Marist lost their veterans John McIlraith and Sam O'Leary early, before O'Keeffe (49) looked to lead them out of the mire, joined by leading hope Mark Fraser (34) after Kent Darlington's support innings ended.
However, the death blows were struck in the 25th and 26th overs as both men from the partnership were dismissed by Rayner (2-10, four maidens in seven overs) and Bryant Galpin (2-52) to leave them struggling at 114-6.
Trillo (3-20) and Ford (2-45) then cleaned up the tail, although there was a bit of fight at the death from Chris Stewart (28) and Michael Engelbrecht (15 not out) to nearly have them over the 200 mark before lowering colours in the 45th over.
The erratic Marton must now do what has so far proved beyond them and defeat a Horowhenua-Kapiti team when they travel to meet Paraparaumu this coming weekend, while Tech likewise have a tough task travelling to take on Levin.
Scoreboard
United 248-8 (T Lance 112, G Smith 59, B Walker 20, A Gill 2-37, J Watkin 2-40, N Harding 2-48) beat Tech 182 (D Lock 56, N Harding 43, K Watkin 25, B Hunter 23, R Verma 4-26, T Lance 3-26, R Power 2-35) by 66 runs.
Marton Saracens 272-6 (C Clare 93no, H Harding 44, D Rayner 32, D Ford 24) bt Marist 193 (Z O'Keeffe 49, M Fraser 34, S Stewart 28, J Trillo 3-20, D Rayner 2-10, D Ford 2-45, B Galpin 2-52) by 79 runs.