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BAY OF PLENTY SECURE THE HAWKE CUP CHALLENGE

Posted: Tuesday, 1 February 2022

There were two things on the minds of the Craigs Investment Partners Bay of Plenty Men's team as they headed up north, 1. get off to a good start in their first Fergus Hickey game of the season 2. Secure the coveted Hawke Cup Challenge...they did both.

Slow and steady was the name of the game as openers Niven Dovey and Taylor Bettelhiem put on 11 runs in the first 10 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bat on a slow Kamo pitch.

Northland's first breakthrough came in the 13th over when Bettelhiem was caught  for 8. This brought in the man of the moment Bharat Popli, who over 211 balls, put on a batting masterclass with a skilful 121. Partnering up first with Blair McKenzie who achieved the milestone of 500 runs for the bay and then with Brett Hampton for a 117 run, 4th wicket partnership, the bay was looking in control at 248/3 in the 75th over. 

Northland would have been forgiven for thinking that once they finally snagged the wickets of both Hampton (in the 76th over) and Popli (in the 86th over), they could stem the flow of runs but that wasn't to be, with Pete Drysdale (45*) and Dominic Crombie (23) putting on an 8th wicket partnership of 57.  

Day 2 was all about wickets for the bay as they knew Northland was still in with a chance of locking in that elusive Hawke Cup challenge against Hawkes Bay.

The Northland openers, Rory Christopherson and Todd Beehre, formed a solid partnership early on but when Beehre was dismissed by Tim Pringle in the 15th over, Christoperson saw 3 of his teammates get out cheaply to some excellent bowling and even a spirited 52 from Mount Maunganui Cricket Club player, Brett Randell, wasn't enough to get the locals within reach as they fell in the 59th over.

Pringle continued on his fine form this season with a five wicket haul and Liam Collett impressed on debut picking up his first representative wicket at an economy rate of 2.14.

A first innings win was all that was needed to get the Hawke Cup challenge that will be played against Hawkes Bay on Friday 11th to Sunday 13th February.

Craigs Investment Partners Bay of Plenty 373/10, 116.5 overs (Bharat Popli 121, Brett Hampton 86. Pete Drysdale 45*; Daneil Grimes 3/75)
Northland 163/10, 58.2 over (Brett Rangell 52, Rory Christopherson 48; Tim Pringle 5/53)
Craigs Investment Partners Bay of Plenty First Innings Win
 

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