Cricket: BOP Development team to play Counties Manukau on Sunday

SEAM UP: Mount pace bowler Luke Tatley has good form heading into Sunday's game. PHOTO/FILE

The Bay of Plenty Development team start their pursuit of the Basil McBurney Trophy, the symbol of ND Development supremacy, against Counties Manukau at Tauranga Domain tomorrow. Bay of Plenty posted a two-win, two-loss record in last season's Basil McBurney title chase with the undoubted highlight the big win over this weekend's opponents at the Weymouth Oval.

Counties Manukau set Bay of Plenty a huge challenge when they posted 269/9 back in February. Bay of Plenty captain Stephen Crossan opened the batting and smashed his way to 144 before being dismissed. Such was the impact of the Bay of Plenty captain's big knock was that victory came with 11 overs to spare.

Crossan's big score was the highest of the Bay of Plenty 2015/16 representative season, sailing past the other representative centuries of Bharat Popli (119 and 111), Tim Clarke (110) and Ben Musgrave (102).

The Te Puke premier skipper has been re-appointed to lead this season's Bay Development team, with the selectors again looking to the future with plenty of youth in the side for Sunday.

Tauranga Boys' College bowler Iman Singh will make his Bay Development debut after impressive form in the new season. Last Monday, he impressed in a Bay of Plenty XI pre-season match-up with Hawke's Bay, bowling his leg spinners with real composure.

Five of Sunday's Bay of Plenty team played in last year's ND Senior Secondary tournament in Gisborne. Alastair Blackett represented Bay of Plenty Lakeland with Blair McKenzie, Jonty Grigson, Gurwinder Singh and Luke Tatley in the Bay of Plenty Coastland team.

Wicketkeeper Mat Golding will bring plenty of maturity and experience to the side as a previous skipper of the Bay Development XI who has kept for the Bay of Plenty Senior side on several occasions.

Another to have plenty of senior cricket experience is Alex Gooding, who has become a genuine all-rounder in recent seasons, while Cameron Neal is a hard-hitting batsmen who likes to attack the boundary.

The team is rounded out by a quality bowler in Brody Gilroy who has established his place in the Bay second XI in the last couple of seasons.

Bay of Plenty team v Counties Manukau, Tauranga Domain, Sunday, 10.30am start

Stephen Crossan (c), Jonty Grigson, Alex Gooding, Brody Gilroy (Te Puke), Alastair Blackett (Rotorua), Blair McKenzie, Matt Golding (wk), Luke Tatley (Mount Maunganui), Gurwinder Singh (Otumoetai Cadets), Iman Singh (Tauranga Boys' College), Cameron Neal (Greerton).

Coach: Charles Williams, manager Richie Earl