Cricket: Bay of Plenty aim to finish season with a flourish

Bay of Plenty bowler Tim Pringle in action against Hamilton. Photo / File

Bay of Plenty enter their last Northern Districts Fergus Hickey Rosebowl game of the season planning to finish their representative season with a flourish.

They square off with Waikato Valley at the Tauranga Domain this weekend.

Head coach Charles Williams said, "We are looking to have a positive finish to our season. The boys have been consistently training well and have gone into each game full of confidence, which makes it frustrating that we failed to retain the Hawke Cup and despatch Hamilton."

There are two changes in the team, which lost the first innings points to Hamilton two weeks ago. Stephen Crossan replaces Bharat Popli, who is on Northern Districts duty, and Brett Hampton returns to the team.

"Stephen Crossan finally gets his opportunity to open the batting and should bring some much needed energy to the batting line-up, coupled with the return of Brett Hampton. He should be confident after a very successful ND one-day campaign and will not only bring experience, but also his all-round abilities with bat and ball.

"Waikato Valley are no longer a team that we can take lightly. They are full of experienced ND players and also up and coming ND A team members.
"We know that we will be involved in a dog fight for the points on offer," Williams said.

There will be sadness in the Bay of Plenty dressing room at the end of the match, as wicketkeeper Tim Clarke hangs up his representative boots to spend more time at home with his family.

"Tim has been a very proud and long-serving Bay of Plenty player and has been part of some great moments over his years in the side.

"While the boys don't need any more motivation, I am sure that they will want to send Tim off with a win."

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl at Tauranga Domain on Saturday and Sunday

Bay of Plenty Team to play Waikato Valley

Jono Boult (captain), Tom MacRury, Stephen Crossan, Joe Carter, Sean Davey, Ben Musgrave, Brett Hampton, Tim Clarke, Tim Pringle, Tommy Clout, Tony Gooding, Chris Atkinson. Coach: Charles Williams, assistant coach: Russell Williams.

Tim Clarke's Bay of Plenty career

BOPCA Representative Player Number: 500
Debut v Northland November 14, 2010
Appearances: 76
Runs: 1476
Centuries: one
Highest score: 110
Wickets: two