Cricket: Bay aim to extend hold on cup

Bay of Plenty allrounder Brett Hampton will be a player to watch in his side's defence of the Hawke Cup against Manawatu beginning today at Bay Oval. Photo / File

Bay of Plenty embark on their fifth defence of the Hawke Cup when Manawatu challenge for the symbol of minor association cricket superiority in a three-day match beginning this morning at Bay Oval.

There are two changes to the Bay side who defended the cup last weekend against Hamilton in Rotorua.

Tai Bridgman-Raison has had his outstanding form in Baywide cricket rewarded with a return to the Bay side. The Te Puke batsman has previously experienced the pressures of ND representative cricket, however, this will be his introduction to the Hawke Cup.

The in-form Baywide batsman is just three runs short of 500 runs in premier club cricket this season and he should strengthen an already strong Bay middle order.

Vaughan Blanchard makes his debut for Bay of Plenty, from a strong background of Counties Manukau representative cricket and playing top grade in England during the New Zealand winter. The off spin bowler has taken 32 wickets in Baywide cricket this season and played for Counties Manukau in a Hawke Cup Direct Challenge against Hamilton in 2012.

At the other end of the experience spectrum are two of the stalwarts of the Bay team in the last few years.

Bay captain Peter Drysdale and allrounder Brett Hampton, who holds the record of most runs in a Hawke Cup match (194 against Hamilton), will be both playing their 45th game in the Bay shirt.

Bay of Plenty relieved Hamilton of the Hawke Cup in January 2013 and have defended it on four occasions since.

They have met Manawatu in Hawke Cup Direct Challenges on four occasions since their first match-up in 1940 with Bay of Plenty winning for the first time in a titanic struggle last season.

Manawatu batted first and were removed for 275 with Hampton returning 3/48. Bay of Plenty's pursuit of first innings points came up short when they were dismissed for 256, with Hampton top scoring with 89 runs.

With a day and a session remaining in the game, a Bay of Plenty outright victory was the only way the trophy would remain in the Bay. The Bay bowlers dug deep and, led by a five-wicket bag by Tony Goodin, removed Manawatu for 188.

With just over a session remaining in the Hawke Cup decider, the Bay of Plenty target was 208 in 37 overs. The Bay openers got away to a cracking start with the score at 103 when Drysdale was adjudged lbw for 43. New Zealand Under-19 representative Joe Carter continued the momentum before being caught on 77 off 78 balls.

After Jono Boult went for 19, Brett Hampton and Bharat Popli came together to bring the home side to a memorable win with 15 balls to spare.

Hampton smashed an unbeaten 41 off 35 balls with Popli caning 19 off just 12 balls.

Bay of Plenty: Peter Drysdale (captain) Tom MacRury, Tim Clarke, Mitch McCann, Brett Hampton, Cameron Neal, Tai Bridgman-Raison, Ben Musgrave, Vaughan Blanchard, Tony Goodin, Tommy Clout