Cricket: Popli century powers Bay to victory (+video)

Bharat Popli scored his eighth century for Bay of Plenty. Photo / File

Bay of Plenty master blaster Bharat Popli took centre stage in the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match with Counties Manukau played at the Weymouth Oval over the weekend.

The home side won the toss and asked Bay of Plenty to bat first. They lost their first two wickets with just three runs on the board.

Popli, batting at four, steadied the innings before blasting the eighth century of his Bay of Plenty career.

The Bay sharp-shooter took control to finish with 111 off 154 balls, including 19 boundaries.

Bharat, 25, who played for Tauranga Boys' College alongside Kane Williamson, already owned the most centuries for the Bay and took his total of three-figure scores to eight, four more than the previous record shared by Richard Shrimpton and Bay of Plenty legends Mike Wright and Mathew Hart.

Bay of Plenty were 194 for the loss of six wickets, when Popli was caught, bringing Bay wicketkeeper Tim Clarke to the crease. His hard-fought 40 unbeaten runs took the visitors through to 239 all out.

Opener Tom MacRury was another Bay player to impress with a solid 42.

Counties Manukau made a good start before a late Bay wicket had them 97/2 at stumps on day one.

When the third home side wicket fell at 102 on day two, the momentum was still firmly in Counties Manukau's favour.

Bay of Plenty change bowlers Campbell Thomas and Andrew Gibbs put on the brakes and were rewarded with wickets.

At 154/5, Counties required 86 for first-innings points, however their last four wickets fell for just nine runs as they were bowled out for 184.

Gibbs took Bay of Plenty career-best figures of 4/52 while Thomas finished with 3/30, and Sean Davey chipped in with two wickets.

Bay of Plenty batted again, but rain intervened after 8.5 overs with the Bay at 18 without loss, before the match finished with Bay of Plenty taking valuable first-innings points.

Check out Bharat Popli here: