With just two rounds to the Williams Cup playoffs, Eves Realty Greerton, Carrus Mount Maunganui and Bayleys Central Indian, have almost certainly booked berths in the semi-finals.

The winner of the clash, between defending Williams Cup title holders Element IMF Cadets and Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College this Saturday, will move into fourth place on the standings - and have a good shot at grabbing the remaining semi-final spot in three weeks' time.

Cadets have won the Wiliams Cup, which was first contested in the 1930's, on 10 occasions in the last 20 years and are past masters of playing pressure cricket. Another strength has been added to their team with the return of Gurwinder Singh to the side from injury. Last weekend, the Bay of Plenty representative bowler grabbed a place on the 2018 Williams Cup honours board, taking five wickets for 19 runs in Baywide action.

Tauranga Boys' College First XI can lay claim to one of the best secondary schools teams in the country, after a third place finish at the NZ Cricket First XI Cup National Finals in December 2017. The Tauranga Boys' First XI backed that up at the 2018 Super Eight cricket championship posting another meritorious third place. One player to make a real impression in the Wiliams Cup is new recruit Taylor Bettleheim, who sits third on the batting stakes with 147 runs and a highest score of 98.

The Western Bay of Plenty premier challenge prize of the Baker Cup will be on the line in a top of the table clash between Greerton and Mount Maunganui at Blake Park. The former Tauranga Cricket Association championship trophy is currently held by Greerton, who took the silverware that dates back to the Second World War from Cadets in the opening round of this year's Williams Cup.

The winner of the encounter between GM Painters Lake Taupo CC and New World Te Puke will bank their win points of the current Williams Cup competition. Te Puke have been unlucky, having been on the wrong end of a couple of tight results. Against both Mount Maunganui and Greerton the Te Puke batting attack posted 200 run plus totals, only to see their opponents chase down the required target.

BOPCA Williams Cup Draw

GM Painters Lake Taupo CC v New World Te Puke, Owen Delaney Park; Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College v Element IMF Cadets, Nicholson Field; Carrus Mount Maunganui v Eves Realty Greerton, Blake2; Bayleys Central Indians the bye

Points Table

Greerton 27, Mount Maunganui 21, Central Indians 21, Tauranga Boys' College 9, Cadets 9, Te Puke 3, Lake Taupo CC 3.

BOPCA Williams Cup Honours Board 2018

Batting (Centuries) 103 – Joshua Bates (Element IMF Cadets) v Greerton

Bowling (Five wickets) 5/19 – Gurwinder Singh (Cadets) v Lake Taupo CC

5/46 - James Boyd (Eves Realty Greerton) v Cadets