Few rounds of Baywide cricket have seen the drama and wild swings of momentum that the last round of the Baywide Cup produced on Saturday December 15.

Mount Maunganui has taken home the Baywide Cup.

Entering the finale to the Baywide first past the post competition, the scenario was that competition leaders Mount Maunganui needed to post a outright win against archrivals element IMF Cadets – with Eves Realty Greerton lurking in second place if the Mount fell at the last hurdle.

Text catch-ups at the half way stage of the first innings at Blake and Pemberton Parks, conveyed that Mount Maunganui were in deadly trouble at 95/7, with Greerton well on the way to bowling East Bay United out for a modest total.

Enter Mount Maunganui heroes Alex Gooding and Tony Goodin who are both better known for their feats with the ball. Unconcerned about the big ask, the two lower order batsman blasted a partnership of 144, with Gooding posting an unbeaten 103 while Goodin was bowled out for 63. Fortune favoured the brave as the Cadets fielders dropped both batsmen when they were on one run each. The Mount Maunganui turn at bat finished at 263/8.

Cadets entered the fray with a positive mindset, however the Mount bowlers grabbed a couple of cheap wickets at the top of the innings. New Zealand Under 19 representative Joe Carter (66) and Scott Steward (48) got their side back on track. With Mount Maunganui needing an outright win to claim the first piece of Baywide silverware, James Birchall and Morgan Bidois batted out the overs with Cadets finishing on 182/8, which meant that the Mount earned just a winning draw from the encounter

At Pemberton Park, Greerton went out to bat at the change of innings confident of reaching what looked to be a relatively modest target of 156. However East Bay United stalwart Steven Ford simply wrecked the home side chances of winning the Baywide trophy. After staying at the crease for 48 overs to post the Eastern Bay sides top score of 43 as they were bowled out for 155, Ford went on to wreak havoc with the ball.

In his first four overs Ford took three wickets without a run being scored, then went on to finish with 5/28, as Greerton were dismissed for 105 to end their title hopes. Dean Butterworth returned 3/23 with Mark Berry grabbing two wickets. The best of the homes sides batting was tail ender Tommy Clout who posted an unbeaten 29.

With Mount Maunganui failing to bowl Cadets out and unaware of the Pemberton Park result – a urgent telephone call on leaving the field at Blake Park, revealed that the Mount had sneaked home to victory in the 2012 Baywide Cup.

Two centuries took centre stage at the Te Puke Domain in the match-up between Te Puke and BOP Indians. Bharat Popli anchored his side's total of 189, with a chanceless 110 before dismissal. Te Puke skipper Tai Bridgeman-Raison led from the front with an unbeaten 107 as the home side cruised to an eight wicket win.

Central finished the Baywide Cup with a hard fought win in a low scoring encounter against Tauranga Boys College at Smallbone in Rotorua. The Tauranga side were removed for just 135 however Central lost seven wickets on the way to victory.

Bay of Plenty Cricket Baywide Cup results are:

East Bay United 155 (Steven Ford 43; S Sidhu 3/9, Tommy Clout 3/23) defeated Eves Realty Greerton 105 (T Clout 29no, Matt Earl 24; S Ford 5/28, Dean Butterworth 3/23, Mark Berry 2/19)

BOP Indians 189 (Bharat Popli 110; Sean Gibson 5/31, Charles Williams 3/34, Matt Dwight 2/28) lost to Te Puke 190/2 (Tai Bridgeman-Raison 107no, Steven Crossan 37)

Tauranga Boys College 135 (Mark Orchard 30; Jason Trembath 4/40, Ben Watkinson 2/18, Ben Blackett 2/26, Andrew Gibbs 2/28) lost to Central 136/7 (Julian Danby 66; Tom MacRury 2/15, M Orchard 2/34)

Mount Maunganui 263/8 (Alex Gooding 103, Tony Goodin 63; James Birchall 2/26) winning draw from Element IMF Cadets 182/8 (Joe Carter 64, Scott Steward 48; T Goodin 3/27, Daniel Hill 2/39)

Final points table results:

Mount Maunganui 86, Te Puke 81, Greerton 80, East Bay United 77, Central 75, Cadets 69, Tauranga Boys College 58, BOP Indians 52.