(Article Courtesy of Barry Leabourn)

Bay of Plenty posted a big score in their first turn at bat in their third Hawke Cup defence of the 2017 season, when they took a decisive first innings points advantage from Nelson, at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui over the weekend (24/26 February 2017).

After winning the toss, the home team took first use of a track that looked to have plenty of runs in it. Openers Peter Drysdale and Tom MacRury got the home side away to a solid start, reaching the 84 run mark, before MacRury was run out for 54. Northern Knights Joe Carter batsman joined the Bay of Plenty skipper at the crease and the pair took the Bay through to 93/1 at lunch.

Drysdale and Carter took control of the Nelson bowling attack after lunch and added 82 runs before the tea adjournment. The pair continued after tea, until Carter was caught by Willem Ludick off the bowling of Joe O'Connor for 105. The Bay number three's innings contained a dozen boundaries and two over the picket fence.

Nelson struck back late on day one, removing Yorkshire professional Alex Lees for 21 and Ben Musgrave without bothering the scorer. At stumps on day one, Bay of Plenty were in a strong position at 284 for the loss of four wickets.

Batting at seven, Sean Davey took up the attack and worked his way to his sides top score of 111 off 189 balls, which included fourteen 4's and three 6's. Davey achieved the rare feat, of scoring three Bay of Plenty's minor association representative centuries, in successive matches.

Bay of Plenty declared at 469/9 shortly after the tea adjournment on day two. The Bay opened their bowling attack with the Northern Districts pair of Tony Goodin and Jono Boult, with Goodin grabbing the first visitors wickets at the 30 run mark. At stumps on day two, Nelson were 74 for the loss of three wickets, with Mason Thelin 44 not out.

The Bay of Plenty bowlers continued their on-going attack on day three and at lunch had Nelson trailing by 266 with just two first innings wickets in hand. Mason Thelin continued on before he was caught by Bay keeper Tim Clarke, of the bowling off Sean Davey, for his sides top score of 69.

A rearguard Nelson tail-enders fightback that started late in the morning session continued after lunch. Nic Clarke scored 63 runs before being bowled by Jono Boult, with Felix Murray continuing to claw back runs before also being dismissed by Boult for 41 - with Nelson bowled out for 275.

Jono Boult finished with the best Bay of Plenty bowlers figures with 3/59 with Tony Goodin also taking three bowling scalps.

The Hawke Cup Direct Challenge finished when Nelson were dismissed with Bay of Plenty retaining the Hawke Cup by way of a 194 first innings point advantage.

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 24-26 February 2017

Bay of Plenty 469/9 (SB Davey 111, JF Carter 105, RPO Drysdale 90, TJ MacRury 54, TC Goodin 28, AZ Lees 21; JM O'Connor 3/69)

Nelson 275 (MJ Thelin 69, NC Clarke 63, FM Murray 41; JJ Boult 3/59, TC Goodin 3/88, CM Atkinson 2/46, SB Davey 2/47)

Result: Bay of Plenty retain Hawke Cup by way of first innings points.