Cricket: Bay oozing experience for challenge

Peter Drysdale (pictured bowling) will captain the Bay of Plenty men's side today in Napier.

The Bay of Plenty men's cricket team will boast plenty of experience when they take on Hawke's Bay today in a Hawke Cup direct challenge.

Three seasons ago, Bay of Plenty lifted the prized trophy from Hamilton scoring a new Hawke Cup highest score of 701.

They then defended the trophy on four occasions, before losing to Manawatu in February 2014.

Bay of Plenty will play Hawke's Bay in a three-day match starting today at Nelson Park in Napier.

They need an outright victory to win back the Hawke Cup.

The Bay of Plenty side boast a team that has made 46 Hawke Cup appearances between them since an unsuccessful challenge against Manawatu in 2010.

Since the Bay first contested the Hawke Cup in 1932, the province has contested 27 direct challenges winning the New Zealand Cricket prize on 11 occasions.

Current Bay of Plenty captain Peter Drysdale has the most current Hawke Cup appearances, having played in seven direct challenges, scoring 290 runs and taking one wicket. Northern Knights all-rounder Brett Hampton has made an indelible mark on the all-time Hawke Cup batting and bowling list.

Hampton sits in second place behind only Derek Beard (549) with 512 runs and will have the opportunity to break that record against Hawke's Bay.

He also sits in fourth place in the bowling stakes with 16 bowling scalps, behind Tony Goodin (34), Beard (17) and former Glamorgan player and coach John Derrick (16).

Peter Drysdale (67), Jono Boult (65), Tim Clarke (55), and Brett Hampton (53) have all played more than 50 games in the Bay of Plenty uniform and will be in action this weekend.

Meanwhile, Chris Atkinson and Campbell Thomas will be making their Hawke Cup debuts.

Bay of Plenty team (Hawke Cup appearances in brackets):

Pete Drysdale captain (7), Tom MacRury (5), Joe Carter (4), Jono Boult (3), Dale Swan (3), Tommy Clout (5), Chris Atkinson (0), Campbell Thomas (0), Sean Davey (4), Tim Clarke (5), Ben Musgrave (2), Brett Hampton (6). Coach: Graeme Aldridge. Assistant Coach: Charles Williams. Manager: Wayne Brill.