Hawke's Bay's team was facing a challenge within a challenge on Friday after being all-out for just 97 batting first on the opening day of its first Hawke Cup defence of the season at Nelson Park, Napier.
Losing the toss to new challenger Canterbury Country, which elected to field first, it was the first time that the Bay has batted first in its current era of a successful challenge and four defences.
Only opener Jack Boyle (22), captain Angus Schaw (13) at third-drop and No 7 bat and wicketkeeper Scott Schaw (22) got to double figures in a steady fall of wickets after Boyle and fellow opener Jono Whitley made it through a predictably slow start to 16-0 in the first hour.
In warm and fine conditions expected to last most of the three days, it was 56-5 at lunch after 113 minutes with Schaw gone on the fourth ball of the 36th over, bowled by Sam Chamberlain, who had taken 2-17 from 14 overs by the time the innings ended 124 more minutes into the afternoon with 97 runs on the board for the home side.
Hawke's Bay claimed the early wicket of North Canterbury opener Zac Foulkes caught by Angus Schaw off the bowling of Ben Stoyanoff with just four runs on the board.