Cricket: Northland to challenge for Hawke Cup

Hamilton couldn't make up enough ground over the three days to catch Northland, winning two and losing one. Photo / Thinkstock

Northland Cricket Association has won the honour of being the Northern Districts Cricket challenger for the prestigious Hawke Cup in 2015.

The Northern Districts elimination series went right down to the last day to decide the challenger, with three possible winners still in the hunt.

Northland's win over Poverty Bay on the last day secured the challenge.

Bay of Plenty were in pole position after day one of the three-day, season-ending tournament in Taupo, but consecutive losses to Hamilton and Counties Manukau sealed their fate.

Hamilton couldn't make up enough ground over the three days to catch Northland, winning two and losing one.

Counties Manukau were the only district to win three matches at the Taupo tournament but were too far back to challenge the leading group. The Northern Districts challenger is decided on a calendar year basis before the challenge series starts in the New Year. The Northland challenge will be on February 13-15 against Manawatu, provided Manawatu can withstand a challenge from the Central Districts challenger.

-Final Points: Northland 31, Bay of Plenty 26, Hamilton 26, Counties Manukau 18, Waikato Valley 13, Poverty Bay 0.