Cricket: Dominant Rosebowl run continues

Bay of Plenty strike bowler Donovan Deeble knocks over a Waikato Valley batsman in Sunday's win at Bay Oval. Photo / George Novak

Bay of Plenty continued their unbeaten run in the ND Fergus Hickey Rosebowl this season, when they wrapped up the Brian Dunning (ND One-Day title) Trophy with a five-wicket win over Waikato Valley at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Sunday.

Bay of Plenty captain Peter Drysdale won the toss and elected to field in a match reduced to 48 overs per side because of early morning rain.

The Bay of Plenty opening bowlers of Brett Hampton and Donovan Deeble were quickly on attack and had the visitors in trouble at three down with just 16 runs on the board.

Bharat Popli took a stunning catch to dismiss key Waikato Valley batsman Tim Siefert for just six runs.

Sam Cooper steadied the ship for the visitors and went on to top score with 30 runs. Chris Swanson and Keith Vincent both reached the 20s, before Waikato Valley were bowled out for 137 in the 42nd over.

Hampton and Deeble both took three wickets apiece, with Tony Goodin returning 2-26.

The Waikato Valley bowlers weren't fazed by the Northern Knights opening pair of former Black Caps Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn and had Brownlie back in the pavilion with just 17 runs on the board.

After Flynn went for 20, fellow ND batsman Joe Carter dug in to top score with 33, which included seven boundaries.

Hampton posted a handy knock of 25 but when he was dismissed the home team still needed 42 runs for victory.

Enter Bay of Plenty skipper Peter Drysdale and keeper Tim Clarke, who took their side home with five wickets to spare. Drysdale posted an unbeaten 30 runs, with Clarke also there as victory came with 18 not out.

Victory over arch rivals Hamilton in a two-day match at the Bay Oval in February, will give the Bay of Plenty team the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl for the 2015/16 season, with the last major hurdle of the season being a Hawke Cup Direct Challenge during March.

- Waikato Valley 137 (S Cooper 30, C Swanson 25, K Vincent 20; Donovan Deeble 3-24, Brett Hampton 3-27, Tony Goodin 2-26) lost to Bay of Plenty 139/5 (Joe Carter 33, Peter Drysdale 30no, Brett Hampton 25, Daniel Flynn 20; S Cooper 2-28, L Parsons 2-28)