BOP take on Hamilton in Fergus Hickey clash

TOP CLASS: The partnership of 197 between Peter Drysdale, left, and Alex Lees set up Bay of Plenty's total of 701 against Counties Manukau. PHOTO: FILE

Bay of Plenty have had little time to savour their success in last weekend's Hawke Cup defence against Counties Manukau as they square off against Hamilton in a Fergus Hickey Rosebowl two-day game starting today

Bay of Plenty coach Graeme Aldridge said the most pleasing aspect of the big Hawke Cup win, was that individuals carried out their own plans, for long periods.

"Pete [Drysdale] and Tom [MacRury] started us off brilliantly and from then on Alex [Lees] played a great innings, as did Donovan [Deeble] with support from everyone else. We made it hard for Counties to gain any advantage and then basically shut them out of the game."

There are two changes from the team that successfully defended the Hawke Cup against Counties Manukau. Alex Gooding returns to the team to replace Donovan Deeble, who is unavailable, and Mount Maunganui batsman Brenton Thompson will make his Bay of Plenty debut.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl encounters with Hamilton are traditionally hard-fought encounters. Bay of Plenty have gone one up in this season's series with their long-time rivals after defeating them at the ND One-Day Tournament in December.

With Bay of Plenty needing to beat Hamilton to make the ND One-Day title decider, Hamilton set the Bay a target of 255. Alastair Blackett, in his first season in Fergus Hickey cricket, did the damage with the ball, taking 6/35. Bharat Popli took his team home to a four-wicket win after scoring an unbeaten 118.

Aldridge is looking forward to the match-up with Hamilton.

"The Hamilton game continues our season focus. We will prepare well and then if we adjust to the different conditions, will compete pretty well. With another Hawke Cup defence the following weekend there shouldn't be any issues with playing three weeks in a row.

"I think that our side are preparing as best I've seen them. There a lot of individual work being done outside of our team trainings. We are giving ourselves every chance to be successful."

One of the architects of the Bay of Plenty success in the last half-dozen seasons has been captain Peter Drysdale.

"Pete is very passionate about Bay of Plenty cricket and is determined to win every game he plays in. He is relaxing as he gets older, which I think is helping his leadership of our group as well as his own batting," Aldridge said.

The Bay skipper has played 74 games for his province since making his debut at the ND One-Day tournament in Taupo in November 2009. At the batting crease he has become a phenomenal run-scorer with 2521 to his name. He went past 2500 runs in last weekend's Hawke Cup game with a hard-fought 84. He has a highest score of 113 not out and has taken 11 wickets as a part-time bowler.

Bay of Plenty team (appearances in brackets)
RPO Drysdale captain (74), TJ MacRury (41), AZ Lees (1), BS Musgrave (25), TJ Clarke (62), CM Atkinson (4), Iman Singh (7), Gurwinder Singh (6), SB Davey (31), TC Goodin (61), AR Gooding (7), Brenton Thompson (debut).