Cricket: Clout knocks batsmen off guard

A hat-trick from Bay of Plenty quick bowler Tommy Clout was the highlight of Bay of Plenty's outright victory against Poverty Bay in a Fergus Hickey Rosebowl fixture at the Harry Barker Reserve in Gisborne over the weekend.

The home side had first use of the batting strip, with the Bay bowlers taking it to their opponents from the opening ball on Saturday morning.

Bay pace bowler Tony Goodin took a five-wicket bag to take his season tally of wickets to 26, as Poverty Bay were removed for 152.

Bay of Plenty skipper Jono Boult bowled with real economy to finish with three wickets for 16 runs.

New Zealand under-19 batsman Joe Carter is having an outstanding season and brought up his second century of the current Fergus Hickey campaign, scoring 108 before being dismissed. Bay's leading century maker Bharat Popli scored a fluent 76 to take his season total to 580 runs, as Bay of Plenty declared at 345/3 to chase outright points in the Fergus Hickey title race.

Mitch McCann (50no) and Brett Hampton (41no) also made significant contributions with the bat.

Bay of Plenty grabbed an easy outright victory when they removed Poverty Bay for 130 in their second turn at bat, to win by an innings and 63 runs.

There were plenty of Bay of Plenty celebrations when Tommy Clout took three successive wickets to post an elusive hat-trick and finish his bowling spell with 4/27.

The last Bay of Plenty hat-trick was taken by Amandeep Singh on debut against Counties Manukau in 2006.

Three Bay batsmen are having a real battle to finish the season as the top run scorer. Carter's second century of the season has taken him to the top of the table with 589 runs, just one in front of Hampton (588), with Popli lurking just behind the leading pair with 580 runs for the season.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl

Poverty Bay 152 (Tony Goodin 5/45, Jono Boult 3/16) & 130 (Tommy Clout 4/27 including a hat-trick, Jono Boult 2/15, Sean Davey 2/22) Bay of Plenty 345/3 declared (Joe Carter 108, Bharat Popli 76, Mitch McCann 50no, Brett Hampton 41no).

Result: Bay of Plenty won outright by an innings and 63 runs.