Trio to debut as BOP Development face Northland

IN FORM: Te Puke stalwart Stephen Crossan will captain Bay of Plenty Development against Northland on Sunday. PHOTO:FILE

Three Baywide premier players will make their Bay of Plenty Development debuts when the side plays Northland at Blake Park three tomorrow..

Greerton medium-pace bowler Jared Tutty and Mount Maunganui batsman Brenton Thompson have earned selection in the Bay of Plenty second eleven, after solid early season form in the Baywide Cup. Tauranga Boys' College Year 13 student Sean Wakelin will also debut.

Last weekend, Tutty in his first year out of Tauranga Boys' College, grabbed a five-wicket bag for Greerton against Te Puke, returning figures of 5-24. Thompson, who previously played his cricket in the Waikato, in his first outing for Mount Maunganui took his side to victory with an unbeaten 67 against Williams Cup titleholders Te Puke.

Last season, Wakelin was one of the stars of the Bay of Plenty Senior Secondary team, who finished runners-up to Hamilton in the annual ND Senior Secondary tournament in Gisborne. The talented all-rounder, has scored runs and taken wickets in early season Baywide Cup encounters, to earn selection tomorrow. Sean Davey and Christian MacDonald return to the Development side for the first time this season.

Bay of Plenty made a solid start to their Basil McBurney Trophy campaign with a hard-fought win over Counties Manukau last weekend.

Last year against Northland the Bay side posted 197/9 in Whangarei and then bowled the hosts out for 153 to claim a solid victory. Individual Bay of Plenty stars in the match, were Cam Neal who top-scored with a gritty 49 and Brody Gilroy who was 22 not out and then took a three-wicket bag.

ND Development Competition, Blake Park 3, Sunday, 10.30am start
Bay of Plenty team v Northland
Stephen Crossan (c), Jonty Grigson, Brody Gilroy, Christian MacDonald (Te Puke), Matt Golding (wk), Brenton Thompson (Mount Maunganui), Gurwinder Singh, Sean Davey (Otumoetai Cadets), Iman Singh, Sean Wakelin (Tauranga Boys' College), Cameron Neal, Jared Tutty (Greerton).
Coach: Charles Williams, Manager: David Tatley.