Cricket: Northland pick up first innings points in Fergus Hickey opener

Northland bowler Caleb Boswell-Smith sends down a delivery during his side's Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match against Bay of Plenty. Photo / Tania Whyte

Northland put together a top team effort to take first innings points against defending champions Bay of Plenty in the opening round of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl.

Northland won the toss and had a bat on Cobham Oval, starting solidly through Henry Cooper and Brad Kneebone.

Cooper was the first to fall for 26 before another quick wicket brought captain Ben Hyde to the crease.

This started a strong partnership from Kneebone and Hyde, who blunted Bay of Plenty's attack.

Hyde was the aggressor in the 111-run stand, scoring 71 including 11 boundaries, while Kneebone was defensively stout and made a well-compiled 61.

Northland lost both batsman in quick succession but another solid partnership between Neal Parlane (59) and Matt Taylor (58) helped Northland to a commanding 336 all out.

Northland got off to the best possible start as Northern Districts bowler Brett Randell (2 for 31) knocked off Bay of Plenty captain Peter Drysdale (2) and Joe Carter (0) in quick succession.

Tom MacRury (60) and Sean Davey (42) consolidated but three quick breakthroughs from Cooper (4 for 71) and Caleb Boswell-Smith (1 for 31) put Northland back in control.

The next couple of hours were a slog as Jono Boult (81), Ben Musgrave (22) and Tim Clarke (67) inched Bay of Plenty closer to the first innings target.

However Cooper, backing up from a pair of Northern Districts first-class appearances, took the wickets of Boult and Musgrave to give Northland the edge.

Tom Herman (3 for 37) came back to the bowling crease and knocked over the last three wickets in a five-over spurt to end Bay of Plenty's innings at 317, giving Northland the points.

Northland next travel to take on Hamilton, who lost on first innings by 330 runs to Counties-Manukau, on November 25-26.

Northland 336 (Ben Hyde 71, Brad Kneebone 61, Neal Parlane 59, Matt Taylor 58, James Blackett 2/20) Bay of Plenty 317 (Jono Boult 81, Tim Clarke 67, Tom MacRury 60, Henry Cooper 4/71, Tom Herman 3/34).