The final place in the Versatile Williams Cup semi-finals will be decided by the BOPCA competitions committee, after three teams were locked together in fourth place after the final qualifying round.

Provisional finishing positions show Element IMF Cadets at the top of the standings followed by Eves Realty Greerton and Bond & Co Mount Maunganui.

Flying Mullet Te Puke, Sandford Wall Lawyers Central Indians and Papamoa are gridlocked on 30 points apiece in fourth equal spot.

Williams Cup competition conditions state, “In the case of equal points, the teams tied will first be decided upon who beat who in the round robin competition, and if not applicable on net run rate”.

Papamoa made their charge for a playoff spot by beating then competition leader Greerton, at Alice Johnson Oval. The home side batted first and reached 200 for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted fifty overs.

Andrew Goldsmith and Nikhil Vishwanath, both posted half centuries, with Jared Tutty and James Boyd grabbing three wickets apiece. Greerton were removed for 135 in the 34th over. Mathew Rees both with genuine enthusiasm to take four wickets at a cost of 31 runs

Central Indians shot into post-section play contention after defeating Craigs Geyser City by 37 runs. Jeff Simmonds anchored his sides title of 239/6 with 80 runs Stephen Nicholls reached 68 before being removed.

The sudden-death match, between Mount Maunganui and Te Puke, saw sixteen wickets fall before Mount Maunganui emerged victorious. Te Puke were bowled out for 125, with the Mount side having to work hard for a four wicket win.

Element IMF Cadets secured the top finishing spot (and a home semi-final) with an easy eight-wicket win against Craigs Geyser City. The Rotorua home side were dismissed for 139, with Cadets cruising to victory for the loss of just two wickets in the 24th over. Match honours belonged to Cadets bowler Liam Collett with 5/29 and a half-century posted by Andrew Mascall.

BOPCA Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup Results March 16 2024

Sanford Wall Lawyers Central Indians 239/6 (Jeff Simmonds 80, Stephen Nicholls 68, Jake Rowe 30no) defeated Craigs Tauranga Boys College 202 (Aryan Aryal 57, Scott Curtis 54; Andrew Gibbs 4/27, Jake Rowe 3/25)

Craigs Geyser City 139 (Liam Collett 5/29) lost to Element IMF Cadets 142/2 (Andrew Mascall 52no)

Papamoa 200/9 (Andrew Goldsmith 54, Nikhil Vishwanath 52, Pieter Osbourne 33; Jared Tutty 3/26, James Boyd 3/43) defeated Eves Realty Greerton  135 (Billy Syme 33; Mathew Rees 4/31, Keagan Bromilow 3/36)

Flying Mullet Te Puke 125 (Iman Nahal 35no; Carl Brungar 4/11) lost to Mount Maunganui 126/6 (Josh Parsons 38)

Points Table (Provisional) Cadets 35, Greerton 33, Mount Maunganui 32, Te Puke 30, Central Indians 30, Papamoa 30, Lake Taupo 22, Geyser City 21, Tauranga Boys College 13.