Four Baywide premier sides will engage in hostilities today, Saturday, March 23, which will propel the winners to final at the Bay Oval, on Easter Saturday.

Nine rounds of preliminary sparring, saw Element IMF Cadets emerge as the Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup top qualifier, with Eves Realty Greerton finishing in second place. also grabbing a home semi-final.

Sandford Wall Lawyers Central Indians, who survived a three-way tie in fourth place, will travel to the Western Bay of Plenty to meet defending titleholder Cadets at Fergusson Park.

The other side of the post-section draw, sees Greerton playing long-time rivals Bond & Co Mount Maunganui at Pemberton Park.

Cadets hold two-nil honours against the Rotorua team this season. Cadets defended a modest 137 against Central Indians in the Bay of Plenty Cup and chased down 166 in the Baywide T20 preliminary competition.

Their Williams Cup round four matchup was eventually abandoned, with Central Indians having their opponents at 61/2, when rain curtailed the encounter.

Greerton and Mount Maunganui, go into the winner take all game at Pemberton Park, with two wins apiece this season.

The Bay of Plenty Cup match between Saturday's rivals was an absolute thriller. Mount Maunganui looked to be in control after bowling Greerton out for 126. Mount bowler, Harry Burns, had a game to remember taking six wickets at a cost of just 16 runs.

At 47/3, the Mount seemed headed for victory. The Greerton bowlers struck back, with Mount Maunganui needing six runs with two wickets in hand, entering the last over. Tom MacRury took the last two wickets for a come-from-behind victory.

The Williams Cup round three matchup, saw Mount Maunganui post 148 all out, with Greerton getting home with three wickets to spare.

Sandwiched between the Greerton wins were two Mount Maunganui Baywide T20 victories. First up, the Mount grabbed a eight wicket win after Greerton were held to 127 all out.

The T20 semi-final between the two sides, resulted in Greerton bowled out for just 105, with their arch rivals getting home with five wickets to spare.

St Patrick's Day, became a day of celebration for the Baaj Sports representative team when they defeated Mount Maunganui, in the time-honoured McNaughton Trophy final.

Batting first in the Baywide Reserve Grade title decider, Mount Maunganui, posted 169 for the loss of six wickets. Logan Carr top scored with an unbeaten 54 with Daniel Smith and Nathan Walker reaching the thirties. Gurinder Singh was the best of the Baaj bowling attack taking three wickets for 34 runs.

Baaj batting machine, Yogesh Yogi, took his team to victory in the cricket prize that dates back to the 1980s, with a hard fought 66. Baaj Sports made it back to back titles with victory in the 34th over.

BOPCA Versatile Tauranga Williams Cup Semi-Finals March 23 2024

Element IMF Cadets v Sandford Wall Lawyers Central Indians, Fergusson Park2; Eves Realty Greerton v Bond & Co Mount Maunganui, Pemberton Park.

BOPCA McNaughton Trophy Final Result March 24 2024

Mount Maunganui 169/6 (Logan Carr 54no. Daniel Smith 39, Nathan Walker 34no; Gurinder Singh 3/34) lost to Baaj Sports 173/5 (Yogesh Yogi 66; Nick Smith 3/24)