Bay of Plenty will start their campaign to retain the Hawke Cup when they play Hawkes Bay in two friendly matches at the Tauranga Domain this weekend.
While the matches are non-competition games with caps not awarded there is sure to be bragging rights on the line after Bay of Plenty defeated Hawkes Bay to win back the Hawke Cup last season.
Bay of Plenty won the New Zealand Cricket minor association prize for the fifth time, after defeating Hawkes Bay in a Hawke Cup Direct Challenge, at Nelson Park in Napier in March.
The match was a thriller with Hawkes Bay setting Bay of Plenty a target of 205, on the afternoon of day three. Led by a Ben Musgrave century the Bay got home to bring the Hawke Cup back to the Bay of Plenty
On Saturday, the two sides will meet in a 106 over (red ball) match and will back up the following day in a 50 over per side (white ball) encounter.