The chief destroyer was no other than award-winning Black Caps seamer Doug Bracewell, claiming a five-wicket bag.
From a fan perspective the final of one-day supremacy among the CD provinces was an anticlimax as the Bay wrenched the cup free off Manawatu when they eclipsed the total with 92-1 in just 24 overs for a crushing nine-wicket victory.
The favourites on paper, the Jacob Smith-captained Bay found traction with left-hand CD opener Jeet Raval who was 40 not out from a patient 85 balls, including five boundaries, while opener Smith added 38 runs, including eight boundaries, from 55 balls.
Veteran Mathew Sinclair was unbeaten on five.
"The win was really convincing but I don't think it's ever easy," Bay coach Lincoln Doull said, hailing his troops for toiling hard with the ball and fielding well despite dropping a catch.
"That made the end result look quite easy but it certainly wasn't easy," Doull said, although he did anticipate the Bay to be chasing a bigger total.
Complete Flooring Napier Tech seamer Liam Rukuwai bowled well into the wind, too.
"We got a couple of early wickets and that helped. Dougie was sitting on a hattrick there for a while but the all the bowlers did well and the batsmen backed up pretty well, too."
The Nelson Park wicket offered bowlers some purchase, something traditionally expected over spring.
"The wind assisted the swing and the ball just carried on off the pitch but they were not difficult to play on," Doull said, alluding to scores of 400 to 500 in games but accepting 90 wasn't ever going to be enough.
Raval had stickability and Smith an ability to eliminate errors.
"He [Raval] missed out yesterday [Sunday] so he was pretty determined today and he stood up and batted well against a very good bowling attack. He grew in confidence as his innings progressed so he'll be quite happy with where he's at at the moment.
"Jake had a couple of silly shots the first two times [against Wanganui on Saturday and Horowhenua-Kapiti on Sunday] this weekend so he decided not to play those today," he said of the Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall cricketer.
"When you get to 70 without loss then the game's pretty much gone from the opposition," Doull said, after player/coach Mason had Black Cap quickie Adam Milne snaring Smith's wicket.
What pleased Doull, though, was the ability of premier club cricketers such as Bronson Meehan (Tech), Henry Hunter (Ruahine Central Hawke's Bay), Smith and Toby Doyle (Taradale) eking out runs.
"It's better for club players putting up runs on the board because that puts pressure on everyone else."
He would love to have all the CD players back for the first two Hawke Cup campaign but was resigned to accepting first-class duties is their priority.
"Alan will give me a call and say these guys are available and these aren't so off we go," he said of CD coach Alan Hunt.
"It was no different today. Tarun was available to play today but, unfortunately, we felt it wasn't right for him to play for us so he missed out.
"If Alan says they are available and I don't feel they are the right guys for the team then I won't be playing them.
"As it turned out we took Ajaz [Patel] in but he didn't bowl a ball," he said of the Taradale left-arm offspinner from Auckland who is in the CD squad.
He is now looking forward to the Kirk Cup game in a fortnight against Poverty Bay at Cornwall Park, Hastings.
"None of the first-class boys are available so it'll be a good opportunity for the club cricketers to put the peg in the ground to place pressure for that first Hawke Cup challenge game."
Mason said it was one of those days but lauded the Bay for skittling them, something they would review this week.
"We got Taranaki on [Nov 10-11] and I'm sure that won't be easy and then we have the Tararua Cup with Wellington, Wairarapa and Hutt Valley."
He felt all the Manawatu players could bat.
"We learned how to play against some good players. Dougie's a test player so it was a great learning experience and they'll move on and get better."
Enjoying coaching, the ex-Black Cap and CD seamer was relieved his body didn't hurt much after three days of playing.
