Cricket: Bay bounce back to form

Bay wicketkeeper Tim Clarke was a study of concentration behind the stumps. Photo/George Novak

There has been no Hawke Cup hangover for the Bay of Plenty men's cricket team.

The side, which lost the challenge trophy to Manawatu a little more than a week ago, fought back on Sunday to beat arch-rivals Hamilton on first innings for the second successive time.

The defending Fergus Hickey Rosebowl champions look to have turned their season around with three wins on the trot after only recording one win before Christmas.

The Bay took first use of the wicket on Saturday, but found going tough at times at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.

Tom MacRury weathered the early storm from the Hamilton bowlers and was rewarded with a half century, before Te Puke batsman Mitch McCann took control of the innings to leave the score at 223/6 at tea.

McCann's knock came unstuck on 92, with Cameron Neal unbeaten on 45 when the innings came to a close at 279.

Hamilton bowler Clint Price was rewarded for plenty of honest toil with figures of 5/60.

Hamilton resumed at 16 without loss on day two, with the match continuing to hang in the balance for much of the afternoon.

The key Hamilton wickets of Peter Bocock and Anton Devcich tipped the contest in the Bay's favour, with Hamilton falling from 218/7 to be removed for 235.

Brett Hampton took a five wicket bag, while Campbell Thomas and Jono Boult took two wickets apiece.

The result means the Bay has taken the early lead in the year-long race for the Northern Districts right of challenge for the Hawke Cup early next year.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui: Bay of Plenty 279 (M McCann 92, T MacRury 53; C Price 5/60) defeated Hamilton 235 (P Bocock 33, A Devcich 31; B Hampton 5/56, Campbell T 2/31, J Boult 2/67).