The Bay of Plenty Fergus Hickey Rosebowl team to play Counties Manukau this weekend at Bay Oval is almost unchanged from the side that lost to Northland two weeks ago.
The Northern Knights trio of Joe Carter, Bharat Popli and Tony Goodin are again available for Bay of Plenty selection. There will be a steely determination in the Bay batting line-up for redemption after the loss to Northland. Openers Peter Drysdale and Tom MacRury put on an opening partnership of 133, with the Bay well poised at 251/4 to chase down the Northland total of 337. However, the last six Bay wickets fell for 36 runs to hand Northland the win.
In last week's Baywide club cricket, MacRury and wicket keeper Tim Clarke were both in impressive form. Greerton's MacRury smashed the highest score of the Baywide season when he blasted 171, that included 11 sixes. Over at Blake Park, Tim Clarke was also on fire as he hammered 138 for Mount Maunganui.
Form batsman of the Baywide season has been Rotorua Central all rounder Jason Trembath, who has earned a recall to the Bay first eleven after a four-season absence. In the first two rounds of the Baywide T20 competition, the Central master blaster was on fire. First up against City Sports Bar Te Puke, Trembath smashed 92 off just 58 balls and followed it up blasting 56 from 12 balls against BOP Indians.
The Bay of Plenty bowling attack will be led by Northern Knight's Goodin who has taken more than 150 wickets in the Bay uniform. Donovan Deeble, who made his Bay of Plenty senior men's debut against Northland, finished the match with two wickets, while Brett Hampton is a match winner with bat and ball.