BOPCA 2016-17 SEASON REVIEW

Posted: Thursday, 4 May 2017

A Myriad Of Bay Of Plenty Cricket All-Time Records Shattered By The 2016/17 Senior Men’s Representative Team

While the first half of the Bay of Plenty Cricket Senior Men’s team received a solid pass mark, the second half was ratcheted up to championship levels, with a number of absolute outstanding performances both individually and by the Bay of Plenty team.

From late January to the last representative game in early March, the Bay of Plenty first eleven repelled four determined Hawke Cup Challenges from Counties Manukau, Hawkes Bay, Nelson and Southland. In addition the Bay side bowled Counties Manukau out twice, in their last Fergus Hickey Rosebowl encounter of the season, to clinch the prestigious ND trophy by a solitary point.

In the process of retaining the NZC Cricket and ND big prizes, a number of individual all-time records were obliterated from the Bay of Plenty Cricket record books.

The arrival of Yorkshire limited overs captain Alex Lees in early January 2017, saw the future England batsman rewrite the Bay of Plenty all-time batting records. Alex powered past the previous highest score 215 posted by Joe Carter, when he blasted 223 runs against Counties Manukau in the Bay of Plenty first Hawke Cup Direct Challenge defence. The English visitor’s double century, also set new figures for the highest Bay of Plenty Hawke Cup score and the highest Bay of Plenty score on debut in Hawke Cup and Fergus Hickey cricket.

In just five games in the Bay of Plenty uniform, Lees blasted 410 runs to leave an indelible mark with his Bay of Plenty teammates. However his biggest contribution, was undoubtedly the opportunity extended to many of the regions emerging players to rub shoulders with the English professional player. In his short time in New Zealand, Alex turned out for two games with the Tauranga Boys College first eleven, which the Tauranga Boys youngsters are likely to remember forever.

Sean Davey came of age in Minor Association cricket this season, lashing three consecutive Bay of Plenty Cricket representative match centuries. Davey hammered his season top score of 141, in the dramatic Hawke Cup defence against Hawkes Bay, at the Bay Oval.

BOPCA Senior Men’s Team (appearances in brackets) 2016/17
CM Atkinson (6) JJ Boult (3) AJ Blackett (6*) JF Carter (3) TJ Clarke (12) SP Crossan (6) SB Davey (12) DM Deeble (5) RPO Drysdale (12) BJJ Gilroy (3) TC Goodin (7) AR Gooding (6) BR Hampton (5) AZ Lees (5) TJ MacRury (12) BS Musgrave (12) B Popli (4) I Singh (8*) G Singh (6*) BH Thompson (4*) JL Tutty (1*) - * 2016/17 season debut
Coach: Graeme Aldridge Assistant Coach: Charles Williams
Manager: Wayne Brill Scorer: Bill Anderson

BOPCA Senior Men’s Team Season Milestones 2016/17
Runs 629 - SB Davey 542 - RPO Drysdale 480- TJ MacRury
Wickets 23 - TC Goodin 19 - SB Davey 17 - CM Atkinson
2016/17 Honours Board
Centuries: 223 AZ Lees v Counties Manukau (HC) 142 TJ MacRury v Northland (FH) 141 AZ Lees v Hawkes Bay (HC) 141 SB Davey v Hawkes Bay (HC) 119 RPO Drysdale v Hamilton (FH) 118no B Popli v Hamilton (BD – one day) 113 SB Davey v Hamilton (FH) 111 SB Davey v Nelson (HC) 108 DM Deeble v Counties Manukau (HC) 105 TJ MacRury v Poverty Bay (FH) 105 JF Carter v Nelson (HC)
Six Wickets in an Innings: 6/35 AJ Blackett v Hamilton (BD – one day)

BOPCA Hawke Cup Direct Challenge Milestones 2016/17
Runs 389 - AZ Lees 339 - SB Davey 223 - RPO Drysdale
Wickets 10 - TC Goodin 10 - CM Atkinson 7 - DM Deeble
Centuries: 223 AZ Lees v Counties Manukau, 141 AZ Lees v Hawkes Bay, 141 SB Davey v Hawkes Bay, 111 SB Davey v Nelson, 108 DM Deeble v Counties Manukau, 105 JF Carter v Nelson.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl
A cracking 105 runs from Bay of Plenty opening batsman Tom MacRury was the highlight of the first Fergus Hickey encounter of the season. Poverty Bay batted first at the Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne and were bowled out for just 101, with Tony Goodin grabbing another five wicket bag.

Tom MacRury anchored the Bay of Plenty single turn at bat with a century, as the visitors declared at 304/4. Poverty Bay were then removed for 131 runs in their second dig, which saw debutant Gurwinder Singh taking three wickets for 5 runs. The final result showed that Bay of Plenty had posted a big innings and 70 runs victory, to open their Fergus Hickey campaign.

Northland has proved a thorn in the side of the Bay of Plenty team in recent seasons, with the last rep season being no different. Bay of Plenty threw a decent challenge at the visitors to the Bay Oval when they were bowled out for 358, with Tom MacRury stroking back to back centuries with a majestic 142. Northland certainly didn’t lie down and the match was declared a draw, with the side from the far north reaching 329/3 before stumps were pulled on day two.

The Brian Dunning Trophy was played as a standalone tournament and for the first time was a mixture of T20 and One-Day games. Day One of the three-day tournament at Owen Delaney Park in Taupo, resulted in the Bay team defeating Counties Manukau and losing to archrivals Northland in the days T20 matches.

Hamilton has always seemed to bring out the best in the Bay of Plenty representatives over the years, with the one-day meeting being no exception. While Hamilton fired 255 all out at their opponents, Bay of Plenty came back with 256/6 to win the encounter. Bay of Plenty season debutant Alastair Blackett, will never forget the match taking six wickets, while Bharat Popli blasted his tenth Bay three figure score with an unbeaten 118.

The two from three victories on the opening two days, resulted in the Bay squaring off with Counties Manukau in the Brian Dunning Trophy title decider on day three. Bay of Plenty were bowled out for 193, with Ben Musgrave top scoring with 51 runs. Counties had their name engraved on the Brian Dunning Trophy after getting home with four wickets to spare.

The Graeme Aldridge coached Bay team, faced an almost impossible seven weekends in a row playing schedule, when they hosted Counties Manukau in the first Hawke Cup Direct Challenge of the season on the 28/30 January 2017 at the Bay Oval.

The Bay of Plenty representatives simple blasted their opponents out of contention, when they batted for nearly two days, before being removed for 701. The huge total equaled the highest even Bay of Plenty total, posted when the Bay team relieved Hamilton of the Hawke Cup in 2013. A multitude of all-time records were set in the match, with Alex Lees blasting the Bay’s highest total of 223, eclipsing Joe Carters previous record of 215. Donavan Deeble wrote his own piece of regional cricket history with a century on Hawke Cup debut.

When Counties Manukau waved the white flag of surrender, after being removed for 220, the match concluded with a huge Bay of Plenty first innings point’s win. Chris Atkinson enjoyed his first Hawke Cup encounter, with his sides best bowling return of four wickets for just 22 runs.

The following weekend (4/5 February 2017) saw the Bay side return to Fergus Hickey two-day cricket, against Hamilton, at Galloway Park in the Waikato Garden City. When Bay of Plenty had the Waikato side nine down for just 189 runs, the visitors seemed to be in control. However Hamilton number eleven Freddy Walker had other ideas when he arrived at the crease. In tandem with Anish Desai, the pair put up a remarkable batting display, putting on a 220 run stand for the tenth wicket. Desai batting at three, anchored his team innings to finish with 165 runs to his name with Walker reaching 150 not out when Hamilton declared late on day two at 409/9.

Not fazed by the big first innings target, the Bay of Plenty batsmen went on the attack, with Peter Drysdale and Sean Davey both smashing their way to three figure scores. However the Waikato region representatives stalled the Bay of Plenty momentum to dismiss them for 332 and grab the first innings advantage.

Hawkes Bay arrived at the Bay Oval, for the second Hawke Cup Direct Challenge of the year, with revenge firmly on their agenda after losing the New Zealand Cricket prize to Bay of Plenty in March 2016.

Few would have picked the mayhem inflicted by the bowlers on the opening days play, where sixteen wickets fell in three sessions. Bay of Plenty batted first and were removed for what looked to be a very modest 170, with Donovan Deeble the only batsman to post a half century. Liam Dudding did the damage with the ball for the visitors with six wickets at a cost of 46 runs.

However the Bay of Plenty bowlers quickly struck back and had Hawkes Bay in deep trouble at stumps on day one, at six down with just 70 runs on the board. Led by four wickets from Donovan Deeble, the challengers were removed for just 103 early on day two.

Hawkes Bay had early success in the Bay of Plenty second dig taking the first two wickets for 24 runs. However Alex Lees and Sean Davey took the game by the scruff of the neck, to blast identical scores of 141 runs apiece, before being dismissed. Bay of Plenty were removed for 470 shortly before lunch on day three, setting Hawkes Bay an impossible target of 537 for outright victory. The Bay of Plenty bowlers had taken seven wickets for 120 runs, when time was called at tea on the third days play.

The Bay of Plenty boys received a timely week off when the game against Waikato Valley was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Former Hawke Cup heavyweights Nelson, were the Bay of Plenty opponents in the third Hawke Cup Direct Challenge of the season. For the third Hawke Cup defence in arrow the Bay side batted first and set the opposition a huge challenge, eventually declaring at 469 with one wicket in hand. Sean Davey smashed his third successive century top scoring with 111, while Joe Carter posted his sixth Bay of Plenty ton after belting 105 runs.

While Bay of Plenty had led the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl standings through most of the season, the Hamilton first innings loss, had turned the final round of games into a three way fight for the ND trophy.

Standing in the way of the Bay of Plenty pursuit of the Fergus Hickey prize for the 16th time, since the 1979/80 season, was Counties Manukau. The two ND rivals were meeting for the fourth time in the season. The home team needed an outright victory at the Tauranga Domain, to lock the ND prize away in the Bay of Plenty Cricket trophy cabinet for the winter break.

The Bay of Plenty bowlers gave their team a great chance of an outright victory, bowling Counties out for 169 in their first turn at bat. Tony Goodin led the way with a five wicket bag, with Brett Hampton taking three wickets. The encounter looked to be turning into a game of attrition, after the Bay batsmen were removed for 264. Brett Hampton backed up his bowling feats with his sides top score of 77.

However the Bay of Plenty bowlers changed the momentum of the encounter, when they rolled Counties for just 107 in their second innings, to need just five runs for victory. Chris Atkinson, who was arguably the most improved player in the Bay team, took four wickets for just 17 runs. The ten wicket win gave the Bay of Plenty side back to back Fergus Hickey Rosebowls.

Bay of Plenty will take the Hawke Cup into next year’s NZ Cricket competition, after retaining the prestigious Minor Association prize, with the fourth Direct Challenge of the term, ending in rain affected draw against Southland.

A slightly delayed start, to the Hawke Cup Direct Challenge played at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, saw the South Island visitors bat first after winning the toss. At 113 for the loss of five wickets, the early momentum lay with the home side. At stumps on day one, Southland had reached 187/5 with Jason Domigan on 73not out.

The recuperative powers at the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui, were on display in spades, on the second day of the Hawke Cup Direct Challenge. Continuous overnight and morning rainfall made the chances of play look improbable, however Southland recommenced their turn at bat 2.10pm, resuming at 187/5.

The Bay bowlers struck quickly taking five wickets in the first hour’s play, however Jason Domigan continued on from his overnight total of 73 runs, before he was given out hit wicket for 82. Southland were eventually removed for 247 just before tea. Jono Boult was the best of the home sides bowling attack taking three wickets for 44 runs.

The Southland bowlers struck early, grabbing their first wicket with just 16 runs on the board. The second Bay of Plenty wicket fell at the 30 run mark. Bad light stopped play on day two, with the hosts in some trouble at 70 for the loss of three wickets. Southland continued on from where they lost off on the morning of the final day, grabbing two quick wickets, to have the Bay five down with just 95 runs on the board. Jono Boult and Sean Davey, set about getting their side back into contention for first innings points, however the players were on and off the field several times due to the continuing rain.

Bay of Plenty reached 157/5 at tea, however the heavens opened again with the match eventually declared a draw. Jono Boult finished on an unbeaten 38 with Sean Davey 32 not out.

BOPCA All-Time Records Established 2016/17 Season
Alex Lees           223 runs v Counties Manukau 28/30 January 2017
Highest Score           (Previous – 215, Joe Carter v Poverty Bay 2014)
Highest Hawke Cup Score   (Previous – 194, Brett Hampton v Hamilton 2013)
Highest Score on Debut   (Previous – 152no, JA Mitchell v Poverty Bay 2006/07)
Highest Hawke Cup Score on Debut (Previous – 194, Brett Hampton v Hamilton 2013)

Three Consecutive BOPCA Representative Match Centuries
SB Davey 141 v Hawkes Bay, 113 v Hamilton, 111 v Nelson

Four Successive Centuries by Two Bay of Plenty batsmen
v Counties Manukau (Hawke Cup)   223 AZ Lees & 108 DM Deeble
v Hamilton (Fergus Hickey)       118 RPO Drysdale & 113 SB Davey
v Hawkes Bay (Hawke Cup)       141 AZ Lees & 141 SB Davey
v Nelson (Hawke Cup)       111 SB Davey & 105 JF Carter

Back to Back Hawke Cup Centuries
AZ Lees                223 v Counties Manukau 141 v Hawkes Bay
SB Davey               141 v Hawkes Bay, 111 v Nelson

BOPCA Notable Achievements 2016/17 Season
Hawke Cup Century on Debut
Donovan Deeble       108 runs v Counties Manukau 28/30 January 2017
150 Representative Career wickets
Tony Goodin           1/36 v Hamilton 4/5 February 2017
2500 Representative Career runs
Peter Drysdale 84 v Counties Manukau 28/30 January 2017
Sixth Bay of Plenty Century
Joe Carter 105 v Nelson 24/26 February 2017
Two Hawke Cup Centuries
Alex Lees 223 v Counties Manukau, 141 v Hawkes Bay
Sean Davey           141 v Hawkes Bay, 111 v Nelson

BOPCA Representative Results 2016/217
Fergus Hickey Rosebowl @ Harry Barker Reserve, Gisborne 12/13 November 2016
Poverty Bay 101 (G Singh 20; TC Goodin 5/30, SB Davey 2/7) &131 (D Joll 40, T Hayes 38; G Singh 3/5, BR Hampton 2/21, TC Goodin 2/34)
Bay of Plenty 304/4 (TJ MacRury 105, RPO Drysdale 73, BS Musgrave 65; A Kumar 2/34)
Result: Bay of Plenty won by an innings and 70 runs.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl @ Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 26/27 November 2016
Bay of Plenty 358 (TJ MacRury 142, RPO Drysdale 58, SB Davey 35, AR Gooding 37, JJ Boult 26; B Randell 3/72, S Hyndman 2/57, H Cooper 2/88)
Northland 329/3 (H Cooper 116no, B Kneebone 107, B Hyde 71; SB Davey 3/57)
Result: Match drawn.

ND Brian Dunning Trophy Tournament @ Owen Delaney Park, Taupo 4/6 December 2016
Day One (T20) 4 December
Counties Manukau 132/6 LC Williamson 44; I Singh 2/11) lost to Bay of Plenty 137/5 (SB Davey 43no, TJ MacRury 36; M Schofield 2/17)
Northland 135/5 H Cooper 62; RPO Drysdale 2/17) defeated Bay of Plenty 132/7 TJ MacRury 26, B Popli25, SP Crossan 22, TJ Clarke 20)
Day Two (One-Day) 5 December
Hamilton 255 (A Desi 80, O Ivins 51; AJ Blackett 6/35) lost to Bay of Plenty 256/6 (B Popli 118no, SB Davey 25)
Day Three (One-Day) 6 December
Bay of Plenty 193 (BR Musgrave 51, SP Crossan 26, BR Hampton 24, B Popli 20) lost to Counties Manukau 194/6 (A Vodnala 75no)

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge @ Bay Oval Mount Maunganui 28/30 January 2017
Bay of Plenty 701 (AZ Lees 223, DM Deeble 108, RPO Drysdale 84, BS Musgrave 61, SB Davey 53, TG Goodin 46, TJ Clarke 45; BA Rhodes 3/97, VE Davies 2/135)
Counties Manukau 220 (BA Rhodes 65; CM Atkinson 4/22, D Deeble 2/39, I Singh 2/83)
Result: Bay of Plenty won by way of first innings points.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl @ Galloway Park, Hamilton 4/5 February 2017
Hamilton 409/9 declared (Anish Desai 165, Freddy Walker 150no; Sean Davey 5/60, Chris Atkinson 3/117) took first innings points from Bay of Plenty 332 (Peter Drysdale 118, Sean Davey 113, Alex Lees 21; James Baker 3/48, Cooper Rowell 3/23, Michael Dodunski 2/44)

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 2017 @Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 10-12 February 2017
Bay of Plenty 170 (DM Deeble 61, BH Thompson 45, TJ MacRury 25; LR Dudding 6/46) & 470 (AZ Lees 141, SB Davey 141, JF Carter 61, BH Thompson 25, BS Musgrave 21; LA Rukuwai 3/84, JHS Smith 2/26, BD Schmulian 2/47, BP Stoyanolf 2/96)
Hawkes Bay 103 (BD Schmulian 47no; DM Deeble 4/34, TC Goodin 2/18, SB Davey 2/24, CM Atkinson 2/25) & 120/7 (R Young 37, JHS Smith 3; TC Goodin 2/36)
Result: Bay of Plenty retained the Hawke Cup by way of first innings points.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl @ St Pauls College, Hamilton 18/19 February 2017
Bay of Plenty v Waikato Valley – game abandoned without a ball being bowled

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 24-26 February 2017 @ Bay Oval Mount Maunganui
Bay of Plenty 469/9 (SB Davey 111, JF Carter 105, RPO Drysdale 90, TJ MacRury 54, TC Goodin 28, AZ Lees 21; JM O’Connor 3/69)
Nelson 275 (MJ Thelin 69, NC Clarke 63, FM Murray 41; JJ Boult 3/59, TC Goodin 3/88, CM Atkinson 2/46, SB Davey 2/47)
Result: Bay of Plenty retain the Hawke Cup by way of first innings points.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl 4/5 March 2017
Counties Manukau 169 (O Pringle 58, T Payle 46; T Goodin 5/42, B Hampton 3/48, D Deeble 2/34) & 107 (L Williamson 32, S Patel 27; C Atkinson 4/17, J Boult 2/21)
Bay of Plenty 272 (B Hampton 77, D Deeble 40, T Clarke 39, P Drysdale 31, S Davey 28; OM Pringle 5/45) & 6/0
Result: Bay of Plenty won by outright victory (and win the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl)

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 10-12 March 2017 - Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Southland 247 (JM Domigan 82, SM Fitzgibbon 33, JDYK Ng 23, JB McKenzie 22, JF Mockford 22: JJ Boult 3/44; BR Hampton 2/41, TC Goodin 2/60)
Bay of Plenty 157/5 (JJ Boult 38no, SB Davey 32no, RPO Drysdale 28; JL Osbourne 2/26, BJ Andrews-Kennedy 2/45)
Result: Match Drawn

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