Cricket: Bay women off to solid start in ND comp

The Bay of Plenty women's representative team made a good start to the Northern Districts women's competition.

Bay of Plenty picked up two wins and a narrow two-run loss to Hamilton playing on Blake Park at the weekend.

Batting first against Poverty Bay on Saturday afternoon, the home side posted 118/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Jacinta Coleman, who made her Northern Spirit debut last season, top scored with 25 runs.

Two bowlers ensured the Bay side would finish with a comfortable win, when they bowled their side to victory. Tia Robinson returned bowling figures of four wickets for 17 runs, with Joanne Taris taking 3/11.

There was heartbreak for the Bay team first-up on Sunday morning against Northern District heavyweights Hamilton. Led by Natalie Dodd (53) and Felicity Leydon-Davis (48) the Waikato side reached 135/4 in the T20 encounter.

Despite Bay of Plenty's White Fern Anna Peterson top scoring with a gritty 65 runs, the Bay ran out of overs and finished three runs short of victory.

Game three resulted in the Bay bowlers shutting down the Waikato Valley batting attack, to post a 39-run win. Batting first, Bay of Plenty mustered 162/5 with Anna Peterson in dominant form, with an unbeaten 89 runs.

Despite Waikato Valley's Nicola Brown posting 73 not out, the Bay of Plenty bowlers strangled the other batswomen's scoring opportunities to restrict their opponents to 123/4 and post their second win from three games during the weekend.

Northern District women's T20, October 27-28

Bay of Plenty 118/4 (J Coleman 25) defeated Poverty Bay 72 (Tia Robinson 4/17, Joanne Taris 3/11).

Hamilton 135/4 (Natalie Dodd 53, Felicity Leydon-Davis 48; Sarah Steenson 2/8, Anna Peterson 2/4) defeated Bay of Plenty 133/5 (A Peterson 65).

Bay of Plenty 162/5 (A Peterson 89no, S Steenson 25no) defeated Waikato Valley 123/4 (Nicola Brown 73no).