An encounter that went down to the penultimate ball of the match, and the unexpected return to Baywide club cricket of Northern Knight Graeme Aldridge - highlighted the Williams Cup clash between Tauranga Boys College and East Bay United played yesterday.

Northern Knight Graeme Aldridge was a highlight of the Williams Cup clash yesterday.

Tauranga Boys' College batted first on their home ground at Nicholson Field, with The school's team mentor Mark Orchard in sublime touch blasting 91 runs as his side set a sizable target, when they were dismissed for 227.

Tauranga Boys' College keeper Alex Oakley also made a solid contribution with 52 runs to his name.

The best of the Eastern Bay side bowling attack was Joel Mathews who finished with figures of four wickets for 41 runs.

While the Eastern Bay batsmen kept up with the required run rate, the team – including Graeme Aldrige who moved to the Eastern Bay of Plenty recently, were also losing regular wickets.

Needing 26 runs to win in the last three overs, Graeme took the Eastern bay team through to victory with the second last ball of the match, to finish with an unbeaten 66.

Pip Thickpenny (57) and Hugh Adim (45) both made useful contributions to the East Bay United total, while promising Tauranga Boys' College bowler Henry Conway grabbed four wickets.

Former Baywide heavyweight Te Puke, comprehensively outclassed defending Williams Cup titleholders Greerton at Pemberton Park.

A second wicket partnership of 174, between Mitch McCann and Ben Williams who has returned to play club cricket, took the game away from Greerton.

Mitch smashed 124 while Ben played a solid supporting role to post 66, as their team reached 245/6 in their 50 overs.

While Cameron Neal was defiant at one end and was rewarded with his sides top score of 46, the other Greerton batsmen were troubled by the Te Puke bowling attack, as the home side were removed for 153 to hand the visitors an easy victory.

Both Mitch and Ben showed they are genuine all-rounders, taking three wickets apiece with Josh Dwight returning 2/31.

A titanic opening partnership of 168, by Mount Maunganui's Peter Drysdale and Tim Clarke, set up the Mount victory against BOP Indians at Blake Park.

Peter posted his second century of the season with an unbeaten 124, with Tim falling on 96, as the Mount finished at a massive 296/3.

When Rotorua sides star batsmen Bharat Popli was removed for 37, the writing was on the wall, with the Indian side dismissed for 104.

The cadets joined Te Puke at the top of the point's standings when they defeated central at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.

BOP representative skipper Jono Boult, grabbed four wickets as the Rotorua side were removed for 117, then posted his sides top score of 46 as cadets got home with five wickets in hand.

Bay of Plenty cricket results are:

Williams Cup:

- Te Puke 245/6 (M McCann 124, B Williams 66; D Spencer 2/47, B Hamptom 2/60) defeated Greerton 153 (C Neal 46, M Earl 39; M McCann 3/16, B Williams 3/42, J Dwight 2/31)

- Mount Maunganui 296/3 (P Drysdale 114no, T Clarke 96, B Guild 36; P Dhanjee 2/44) defeated BOP Indians 104 (B Popli 37; D Swan 4/10. D Hill 2/15)

- Tauranga Boys' College 227 (M Orchard 91, A Oakley 52 K Taylor 28; J Mathews 4/34, G Aldridge 2/23) lost to East Bay United 228/8 (G Aldridge 64no, P Thickpennty 57, H Adim 45; H Conway 4/41) Central 117 (J Boult 4/23) lost to Cadets 120/5 (J Boult 46)

Williams Cup Points Table:

Cadets 12, Te Puke 12, Central 6, Greerton 6, Mount Maunganui 6, East Bay United 6. Tauranga Boys College 0, BOP Indians 0.