Cricket: Northland must clinch first innings points

If Northland want to earn a Hawke Cup challenge this season, then first innings points against the Bay of Plenty this weekend are a must.

Northland should be a good chance on their home ground at Cobham Oval in the two-day match starting tomorrow, particularly after beating Bay of Plenty in their 50-over encounter at Taupo recently.

But skipper Neal Parlane is aware of the depth of talent in the visiting side.

"We're expecting them to be at full strength minus their New Zealand players, which means they will have Northern Districts players like Jono Boult and Tony Goodin, so we're looking forward to a good challenge," Parlane said.

Runs may be harder to come by on what is expected to be a livelier Cobham Oval pitch than last season but there is plenty of batting form in the team.

Ben Hyde got 100 for the Northland B team on Sunday, while Brad Kneebone and Henry Cooper both got centuries in club cricket last Saturday.

"Everyone else has shown good form in club cricket this season, so we're in a pretty good place really," Parlane said.

Northland won two out of their three one-day matches in Taupo but their upset loss to Poverty Bay sees them trail Hamilton on the points table.

"We need as many points as we can get in our next two two-dayers if we are to force a [Hawke Cup] challenge," Parlane said.

"If we can match what Hamilton do in this round and then go down and beat Hamilton in two weeks' time, then the challenge is as good as ours," he said.

Northland: (From) Bradley Kneebone, Joey Yovich, Henry Cooper, Neal Parlane, Michael Parlane, Ben Hyde, Ian Page, Rory Christopherson, Michael O'Flaherty, Cody Andrews, Kurtley Watson, Matt Taylor, Jack Murphy.