BOP development off to winning start

WELL BOWLED: Luke Tatley took three wickets in Bay of Plenty Development XI's win over Counties Manukau. PHOTO/FILE

Counties Manukau Development team won the toss against their Bay of Plenty counterparts at the Tauranga Domain on Sunday and asked the home side to bat first.

Bay of Plenty were in early trouble on a greenish deck that looked to have plenty of assistance for Counties' seam bowlers, losing two cheap wickets. Youngsters Sean Dykes and Alastair Blackett dug in, before Blackett was caught trying to pull a short ball.

Another Bay of Plenty wicket fell two balls later but opener Sean Dykes and Jonty Grigson worked hard to push the Bay past the 100-run mark, before Dykes was stumped on 35 and Grigson was run out for 22.

Alex Gooding and Gurwinder Singh scored runs down the order and with 44 extras conceded by Counties, Bay of Plenty got through to a respectable 175 all out.

Luke Tatley (3/23) and Singh (2/20) opened the Bay of Plenty bowling and had the ball bending and appearing to seam around corners. Both bowlers had good control making it difficult for the Counties batsmen to hit out.

Gooding (3/27) and Brody Gilroy then took their turn at the crease and backed up the good work from the opening bowlers. Tauranga Boys' College student Iman Singh on debut had respectable figures of 2/18.

The match finished in a Bay of Plenty victory by 54 runs when Counties Manukau were bowled out for 121. Bay of Plenty team management were well pleased with the Basil McBurney Trophy season start and also the performances from the younger players in the team, who had to face a step up against quality opponents.

Next Sunday, Bay of Plenty Development continue their ND Development campaign when they square off with Northland at the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui.

Bay of Plenty Development 175 (Sean Dykes 35, Jonty Grigson 22) defeated Counties Manukau 121 (R Umasuthan 59; Luke Tatley 3/23, Alex Gooding 3/27, Iman Singh 2/18, Gurwinder Singh 2/20)