There were a couple of first innings victories for Northland and Hamilton in round three of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl played over the weekend.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Waikato Valley found themselves in early trouble after a devastating spell from Northland's Nathan Parkes, who claimed five wickets within the first 13 overs to reduce Waikato Valley to 35/6.

Scorecard

Waikato Valley were in further trouble when they found themselves 62/8, but their tail-end showed great fight, adding 88 for the last two wickets to take their score to 150; Reo Sakurano-Thomas top-scoring with 46 from number 10, while Parkes finished with figures of 5-45.

In contrast, Northland's batsmen regularly built good innings; three of their top five scoring half-centuries and the other two making it into the forties as they made their way to 304/5 before declaring, giving themselves the crucial first innings lead.

Following Northland's example, Waikato Valley constructed a very composed second innings with four of their top five going passed 50 as they surpassed Northland's score and started building a lead.

A result was always going to be hard for Waikato Valley to force, however, and when play was called for the match they were 248/3; a lead of 94 runs, but someway from a result.

The other match of round three saw Bay of Plenty host Hamilton; a rematch of the fixture played just last weekend in the season's first Hawke Cup challenge.

Scorecard

Hamilton batted first after winning the toss and regularly built partnerships as they set about building a solid first innings total.

Hamilton number four Carsons took on the task of anchoring the innings and seeing off the new ball, staying at the crease for 49 overs as he constructed 68 from 126 balls.

If Carsons' innings was one of graft, than the two from Freddy Walker and Kuwyn Price were all about fireworks.

Building on from Carsons' good work, Walker and Price looked to advance the game, Walker scoring 83 off 77 balls and Price 75 off 48 to spur Hamilton on to 336 all out.

Bay of Plenty were on the back-foot early in their innings as a tidy opening spell from James Baker had Bay of Plenty 30/3.

A Bay of Plenty veteran and youngster then combined to steady the ship, Taylor Bettelheim and Daniel Flynn adding 125 for the fourth-wicket until Flynn was caught for 64.

When Bettelheim departed shortly after for 72 and a further wicket fell five runs later, Bay of Plenty were again in trouble at 178/6.

A Crombie half-century provided further resistance and threatened to overhaul Hamilton's 336, but he was the last man out with the score at 289, giving Hamilton a first innings victory by 47 runs with the sides not returning to the field for a third innings.