BOP and Northland draw high scoring game

TOP CLASS: Opener Tom MacRury scored his second consecutive century for Bay of Plenty in the drawn match with Northland. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Bay of Plenty shared honours with Northland in the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl game played at the Bay Oval over the weekend.

Bay of Plenty captain Peter Drysdale, playing his 70th game in the Bay uniform, won the toss and elected to bat.

The first half of the game belonged to the home side, with openers Tom MacRury and Drysdale taking to the Northland bowling attack.

MacRury was in majestic form as he blasted his way to back-to-back centuries, before being run out for 142, with the opening partnership producing a stand of 203, a record for the Bay.

MacRury's big score included 22 fours and two shots over the boundary ropes.

Drysdale reached 58, before he was caught by Brad Kneebone off the bowling of Henry Cooper.

The dismissal of the Bay of Plenty skipper saw a change of fortunes for the visitors as they started to grab wickets.

Sean Davey posted a gritty 35, while Jono Boult reached 26 before being dismissed, which took his Bay of Plenty total runs past the 2000 run mark since his debut a decade ago.

Alex Gooding, playing just his third match for the Bay of Plenty first XI, dug in down the order to score a more than useful 37, as his team were bowled out for 358 early on day two.

"We played well on Saturday, with Tom MacRury and Pete Drysdale setting a new first wicket record. Tom hit the ball well and scored at good rate to put us in a good position," Bay of Plenty coach Graeme Aldridge said.

"A few others chipped in and we were happy with our score."

A further avalanche of runs came from the Northland batsmen as they set their sights on overhauling the big Bay total.

Ben Hyde and Kneebone put on a first wicket partnership of 117, before Kneebone and Cooper took the Northland total through to 316, with both batsmen posting centuries.

Sean Davey took all three Northland wickets to fall, with the game ending in a draw when rain arrived late in the afternoon.

"The team created enough chances with the ball to put Northland under pressure but unfortunately dropped a number of catches," Aldridge said.

"Northland batted well and we bowled well in patches. We were lucky to come away with the draw but will take the two points against good opposition. It was a very good game for our younger players in the team to realise what they need to get to at this level."

The two teams meet again at the ND Limited Overs tournament in Taupo next Sunday.

Bay of Plenty 358 (Tom MacRury 142, Peter Drysdale 58, Sean Davey 35, Alex Gooding 37, Jono 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; Sean Davey 3-57).
Result: Match drawn.