OVAL OVERTURES

Posted: Friday, 25 September 2015

Welcome to the first Oval Overtures of the 2015/16 season. Oval Overtures is a catch-up of the many and varied happenings at the Bay of Plenty’s international cricket venue.

The big news is the return of the Black Caps and White Ferns. Sell-out crowds should be on hand, to watch the New Zealand boys take on Sri Lanka in two games in the middle of the holiday season, in early January. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Blake Park would be packed to near capacity, as ND would play other Major Associations in domestic one-day encounters in the heart of the holiday season.

Added pressure in the Black Caps verses Sri Lanka ODI on the 5th January 2016, is that the match-up at the Bay Oval is the fifth and final game in the ANZ ODI series, which could see the Bay Oval match deciding the series.

Two days later on the 7th January 2016, patrons could be treated to a real run-fest as the two countries square off in a late afternoon T20 International game. A bonus in the Black Caps Bay Oval encounters, is the chance to watch our local boys wearing the New Zealand uniform. Kane Williamson and Trent Boult have become permanent fixtures in the Black Caps in recent years. Cory Anderson is also regarded as one of our own, residing in the Bay and registered with Otumoetai Cadets.

The New Zealand Cricket regard for the Bay Oval, has seen the Mount Maunganui ground awarded the three game ODI series between the White Ferns and Australian Women’s side. There are few contests that invoke genuine kiwi passion than the contests with our neighbours from over the ditch.

During February 2016, the two long-time ICC Women’s Cricket rivals will go into a head to head battle at the Bay Oval, to earn the right to lift the ODI series trophy aloft in victory. Former Bay of Plenty Women’s Captain Anna Peterson, has been awarded a NZ Cricket Women’s contract in recent weeks and is likely to be seen in action at the Bay Oval against the Aussies. Anna has been a big mover in the ICC Women’s batting rankings, after the recent White Ferns v India series and has rocketed up 49 places to hold down 75th position.

Mount Maunganui’s premier ground will host three games in the NZ Cricket Domestic competitions. The Labour weekend holiday break will see the Northern Knights play at their alternative home ground, when they square off with the Auckland Aces in a four-day Plunket Shield match.

The big hits of the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 will strike the Bay Oval on the 6th December 2015 with a Ford Trophy match being played on 20 January 2016. There will be plenty of interest in the Northern Knights visits to the Bay Oval with Jono Boult, Daniel Flynn, Brett Hampton, Bharat Popli and Tony Goodin all playing in the ND professional ranks this season.

Bay of Plenty Cricket fans, will also have three opportunities to watch the Bay Rep team in action at the Bay Oval, in the second half of the ND Fergus Hickey Rosebowl season. Arch rivals Hamilton will play the home side in the Bay of Plenty team’s last two day match of the FH season, with FH one-day games against Waikato Valley and Poverty Bay, wrapped around the Hamilton match-up.

BAY OVAL SCHEDULE 2015-16
October 2015
23 NZ Cricket - Plunket Shield Northern Knights v Auckland Aces Bay Oval

December 2015
6 NZ Cricket – Georgie Pie SM Northern Knights v Otago Volts Bay Oval

January 2016
5 NZ Cricket – ODI Black Caps v Sri Lanka Bay Oval
7 NZ Cricket – T20 Black Caps v Sri Lanka Bay Oval
20 NZ Cricket – Ford Trophy Northern Knights v Canterbury Bay Oval
31 Fergus Hickey Rosebowl BOP v Waikato Valley Bay Oval

February 2016
13/14 Fergus Hickey Rosebowl BOP v Hamilton Bay Oval
20/22/24 – NZ Cricket – Women’s ODI White Ferns v Australia Bay Oval

March 2016
5/6 Fergus Hickey Rosebowl BOP v Poverty Bay Bay Oval

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