Cricket: Bharat Popli joins elite club

Bay of Plenty master blaster Bharat Popli passed a significant batting milestone in the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match against Northland last week.

Popli's 90 runs meant the youthful batsman became just the fifth Bay of Plenty batsman to post 2000 runs.

It has taken Popli just over five seasons in the Bay of Plenty uniform to move into fifth place on the all-time batting stakes.

Popli has put together some amazing statistics since he was plucked from the Tauranga Boys' College 1st XI to play for the Bay against Hamilton in December 2008.

Few have made a more spectacular entrance into Fergus Hickey Rosebowl cricket. The youngster was unfazed facing the competition heavyweights as he battered the Hamilton bowlers to post 113 runs.

The honours board of Bay of Plenty centuries reads like a who's who of Bay of Plenty cricket over the years.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Eric Petrie became the third Bay of Plenty batsman to post the magical three-figure score, followed by such players as Mike Wright, Andy Roberts, Derek Beard, Grant McKenzie and Kyle Wealleans.

In more recent times the list includes former Black Caps Mathew and Robbie Hart and Lorne Howell, along with Mathew Drake and Ben Williams.

Two seasons ago, Popli equalled Richard Shrimpton, Mike Wright and Mathew Hart's total of four centuries - before forging ahead to take the record outright with two centuries last season.

Leading the all-time list with 3980 runs is Mike Wright, who played 22 seasons in the Bay strip, followed by Derek Beard (2843) who holds a record 105 appearances.

Sitting in third spot is Mathew Hart (2446), with Grant Manners, who stills turns out for Otumoetai Cadets' second team, finishing his Bay career in fourth place with 2368 runs.