Bay side has no answer to Hamilton
Tenth wicket partnership dashes home team’s hopes
Cricket
EVEN the presence of Black Cap Cory Anderson in his comeback match was unable to help Bay of Plenty against Hamilton in their Northern Districts Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match played at the Tauranga Domain over the weekend.
Anderson did not bowl and was dismissed cheaply in his only turn at bat in his return to cricket after a major back injury.
Hamilton made 278 and bowled out Bay of Plenty for 130. Following on, the Bay reached 52/2 to concede the valuable Fergus Hickey points to their rivals.
Hamilton won the toss and elected to bat on a tricky pitch that offered the seamers plenty.
Bay of Plenty bowlers took the first two wickets with just five runs on the board and looked to be in charge having Hamilton 180/9.
However, a 10th wicket partnership between Brook Hatwell and No 11 batsman Cooper Rowell produced 98 runs allowing Hamilton to reach 278.
Hatwell anchored his side’s total with 142 before he was eventually dismissed by a Ben Musgrave catch off the bowling of Tim Pringle. Rowell played a big support role in the 10th wicket stand to finish 26 not out.
“We were obviously disappointed with the result, but more disappointed in the way that we played. Having Hamilton 180/9 after a solid effort from our bowlers and then letting them through to 278, took the ascendancy away from our hands to give our opponents the advantage that they used when they bowled,” Bay of Plenty coach Charles Williams said.
The Bay of Plenty innings was characterised by the coming and going of their batsmen as they made just 130 to hand the visitors first-innings points.
“Hamilton had shown us the correct way to play on that wicket, but we failed to capitalise on the information. Bharat Popli and, towards the end, Jono Boult knuckled down and showed aptitude and patience but it was too late to pull back the deficit,” Williams said.
One shining light in the Bay of Plenty innings was Popli passing the 3000 run mark to become only the second Bay batsman after Mike Wright (3950) to do so.
Williams says his side were hurting in the dressing room after the game. myself as coach as well.
“We are now focused on our last Fergus Hickey game of the season in two weeks’ time against Waikato Valley, who have been a massive improver in the last couple of seasons.
“They are a genuinely good side that will again put us under pressure. It shows the level of Fergus Hickey cricket and how focused you have to be in every game.”