Bay Oval Lights To Be Turned On Saturday Night

Posted: Thursday, 14 December 2017

Arguably the most significant milestone, in over eight decades of Bay of Plenty Cricket history, will take place on Saturday (16 December 2017) night when the flood lights are turned on at the Bay Oval, during the Burger King Super Smash clash between the Knights and the Aces.

Bay of Plenty Cricket had long held a desire to develop Blake Park into a purpose-built first class cricket ground. Until dropped by New Zealand Cricket because of the supposed sub-standard pitches at Blake Park, the popular holiday venue used to attract some of the largest one-day crowds each season.

The Bay Oval Development was to have a “village green” atmosphere where up to ten thousand spectators, would be able to witness all three forms of the game, that are played today.

The biggest step forward (to date) for the Bay Oval took place on the 2nd January 2014, when the brand spanking new Two Million Dollar pavilion was officially opened. A ceremony was held just prior to the HRV Cup match between the Northern Knights and the Canterbury Wizards to mark the occasion.

Cricket under lights, was the third vision of the Bay Oval Trust, after achieving international ground status and the state of the art pavilion became a reality.

Bay of Plenty Cricket CEO Chris Rapson, who has been there from the start of the Bay Oval development, said “This new milestone of world class floodlighting at Bay Oval will add another dimension to live sport in the Bay. Our best players deserve the best conditions to play in and our spectators deserve to witness the best performances; after all they are paying for the privilege”.

“The new flood lighting at Bay Oval is the first cricket venue in the world to make use of LED technology and those who attend the match on Saturday will witness history in the making. I know all will be impressed with the quality of the lights and the ongoing developments at Bay Oval which includes a new replay screen and enhanced spectator facilities. It will be a great night to be part of the action.”

Sixteen games under lights will be hosted at the Bay Oval this summer, kicking off with the Burger King Super Smash Twenty 20 action on Saturday evening and not concluding until the White Ferns square off with the West Indies, in Women’s International T20 action on the 16th March 2018.

International Cricket returns to the Bay Oval on the 19th and 21st December 2017, when the New Zealand and Zimbabwe Under 19 teams, play two warm-up matches, prior to the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup being played in New Zealand in 2018.

The New Year, will showcase two Black Cap T20 encounters with the West Indies on the first and third day of January 2018.

All the best age-group players in the world, will be in the country for the Under 19 Cricket World Cup, with the Bay Oval showcasing six round robin games. A world-wide television audience of millions upon millions of cricket fans, is expected to watch on the 3rd February 2018, with the Under 19 CWC Final being played out in Mount Maunganui.

Pakistan and England, will also go into head to head battle with the Black Caps at the Bay Oval during 2018. On the 28th January, International T20 action will take centre stage when the Black Caps take on long-time rivals Pakistan.

However the biggest game of season is scheduled for the 28th February, when the New Zealand representatives meet arch-rivals England, in an ODI that will be sold out well before the first ball is bowled at 2pm

Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui – Games Under Lights Schedule 2017/18

Burger King Super Smash

16 December 2017 Knights v Aces – 7pm

27 December Knights v Aces – 7pm

December 19 & 21 - New Zealand Under 19 v Zimbabwe (U19 CWC warm-up matches) – 2pm

1st January 2018 Black Caps v West Indies (T20) - 7pm

3rd January Black Caps v West Indies (T20) – 7pm

28th January Black Caps v Pakistan (T20) – 7pm

28th February Black Caps v England (ODI) – 2pm

ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup

13th January New Zealand v West Indies – 2pm

14th January India v Australia – 2pm

16th January India v Papua New Guinea – 2pm

17th January West Indies v South Africa – 2pm

19th January India v Zimbabwe – 2pm

20th January New Zealand v South Africa – 2pm

3rd February ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup Final – 2pm

16 March White Ferns v West Indies Women (T20) – 2pm

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