BOP beaten by Hamilton in Fergus Hickey shock

STYLISH: Allrounder Sean Davey scored his first century for Bay of Plenty in the loss to Hamilton over the weekend. PHOTO: FILE

The Fergus Hickey Rosebowl two-day match between Bay of Plenty and Hamilton played over the weekend in Hamilton featured a remarkable last-wicket stand of 220 that won the encounter for the home side.

Bay of Plenty bowled first and grabbed their first wicket with just five runs on the board. Sustained attack by Sean Davey, who finished with five wickets, contained the Hamilton batsmen. When Bay of Plenty had the Waikato side 189-9 they looked to be well in control.

However, Hamilton number 11 Freddy Walker had other ideas when he arrived at the crease. In tandem with number three Anish Desai, the pair put up a remarkable 220-run stand for the tenth wicket. Desai anchored his team innings to finish with 165 while Walker put on an outstanding display, hammering 150 runs off just 125 balls with 23 fours and a six.

It was his first century at senior level and enabled Hamilton to declare at 409/9.

Bay of Plenty reached 25-1 at stumps on day one. Things got worse early on day two, with Hamilton having the Bay in a deep hole at 56-5.

But opener Peter Drysdale was a rock at one end and when Sean Davey arrived at the crease, the fightback began. Davey was the first to three figures, reaching 113 before being caught by Peter Bocock, with the Bay of Plenty captain scoring 118 in a hard-fought knock off 275 balls.

The end came when Bay of Plenty were bowled out for 322 in the 92nd over, to give Hamilton first innings points.

The Bay of Plenty milestones continued to roll on from last weekend's successful Hawke Cup defence. Davey posted his maiden Bay of Plenty century, while it was number three for Drysdale and his highest total in eight seasons of representative cricket. Tony Goodin grabbed a wicket which took his Bay of Plenty total to the 150-wicket mark.

Bay of Plenty have just four days to regroup, before their second Hawke Cup defence against Hawke's Bay starts on Friday.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl

Hamilton 409/9 declared (Anish Desai 165, Freddy Walker 150no; Sean Davey 5/60, Chris Atkinson 3/117) won on first innings 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).