While Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui batsmen struggled on the opening days of the National Club Cricket Championship played in Auckland – they came right with a bang on the penultimate day of play.

Two centuries from the Northern Districts Club champions set up what turned out to be an easy win over Central Districts representative Marist United.

Bharat Popli, who has a share of the Bay of Plenty representative team all time record of centuries (four), was in sparkling form blasting 130 runs before he was dismissed.

Mount Maunganui was in early trouble, losing its first two wickets with just two runs on the board.

However, Popli and Sheldon Kearns produced a 253 fourth wicket partnership, which greatly assisted the Mount in posting 299/5.

Sheldon Kearns was no less dominant smashing an unbeaten 126, which included 17 fours and two sixes. Bharat Popli also had his sights firmly on the boundary, finishing with 18 fours and two sixes.

Dale Swan cut a path through the Marist United batting order grabbing five wickets for just 25 runs as the Central Districts side was bundled out for just 81 runs.

On Super Sunday, Mount Maunganui put a far better performance against Wellington side Karori, than their effort on day three.

In the playoff for fifth and sixth place, the Karori batsmen took the game by the scruff of the neck, posting a huge target when they reached 332/7 in its allotted overs.

However, the Mount batting attack wasn't phased and made a valiant attempt for victory. While Mark Divehall (45) Blair Parlane (42) Daniel Hill (41) Sheldon Kearns (40) and Bharat Popli (33) all got starts – no-one stepped up to smash a winning knock.

On the opening day of competition, Mount Maunganui made an encouraging start to the tournament having Howick Pakuranga in some trouble at 60/4.

However, the weather had the final say with the match abandoned.

The ND representatives would probably like to forget the encounter with East Christchurch Shirley on day two with the Canterbury side ripping apart the Mount Maunganui batting attack for just 66.

The first meeting with Karori (on day three) saw a slightly improved performance, with the Mount being dismissed for 180, chasing a reduced target of 223.

The bowlers from both sides dominated the game with Otago side University Grange on the fourth day of play. While the Mount was dismissed for just 131, they had their opponents on the ropes at 116/9, however, the Otago side's tail wagged with University Grange finally getting home for victory.

National Club Cricket Championship Results

Day Six – Playoff for Fifth Place

Karori (Wellington) 332/7 (C Atkinson 3-55) defeated Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 246 (M Divehall 45, B Parlane 42, D Hill 41, S Kearns 40, B Popli 33)

Day Five

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 299/5 (Bharat Popli 130, Sheldon Kearns 126no defeated Marist United (Central Districts) 81 (D Swan 5/25)

Day Four

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 131 (Sheldon Kearns 34) lost to University Grange (Otago) 132/9 (Tony Goodin 5/46)

Day Three

Karori (Wellington) 288 defeated Platinum Pacific Reclad Maunganui 180 (M Divehall 57, P Drysdale 40) (Target 223 from 34 overs)

Day Two

Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui 66 (B Hiini 7/24) lost to East Christchurch Shirley (Canterbury) 67/4.

Day One

Howick Pakuranga (Auckland) 60/4 v Platinum Pacific Reclad Mount Maunganui - match abandoned.