Golden duck at Bay Oval

A first ball wicket from SKYCITY Northern Knights quick bowler Anton Devcich, was the icing on the cap on a day where the new Bay Oval pavilion at Mount Maunganui was officially opened.


Canterbury Wizards bowler Hamish Bennett in action

The catalyst for the development of the Bay Oval at Blake Park at Mount Maunganui, was the loss of the highly popular NZ Cricket one day games at Blake Park. The last one day encounter at Blake Park on 3 January 2002 between Northern and Central Districts, started a chain of events that culminated in the opening of the brand new pavilion on Thursday afternoon.

The Bay Oval is one of six venues to host the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifying 2014 (CWCQ 2014) tournament, to be played in New Zealand, which starts at the Mount with two warm-up games next Friday (10 January 2014)

During January 2014, some 150 players from some of the ICC Associate and Affiliated members will take part in 34 Tournament and 10 warm-up matches throughout the country. Seeking to join Ireland and Afghanistan, who have already secured two of the four ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 berths, available to associate and affiliate nations, are Canada, Hong Kong, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and Uganda.

The opening of the new Western Bay pavilion by Tauranga City mayor Stewart Crosby, completed the Bay Oval's arrival as the countries latest international cricket venue.

While the Northern Knights made a stunning start playing at their second home base, with Anton Devcich taking two wickets in the opening over – the game eventually belonged to the visitors who battled to an 11 run victory.


Canterbury Wizards batsman Andrew Ellis is stumped.

Canterbury fought back to post what appeared to be a modest 125/7 in their twenty overs at the crease. Bay local Jono Boult joined Devcich in taking two wickets, with his off spin troubling the Wizards batsmen.

Brad Wilson's 44 runs shone like a beacon, as the Knights simply failed to put together any substantial partnerships being removed for 114, to hand the visitors what had earlier seemed like an unlikely victory.


Brendon Diamante catching Anton Devcich

HRV Cup Result 2 January 2014

Canterbury Wizards 125/7 (Ton Latham 44' Anton Devcich 2/1, Jono Boult 2/23) defeated SKYCITY Northern Knights 114 (Brad Wilson 43)

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1 comment

What a bloody farce

Posted on 04-01-2014 07:28 | By ROCCO

Yes please keep reminding us at every opportunity who these dilberts are hosting again with the likes of Outer Mongolia and Greenland in the Cricket World Cup second rate qualifiers courtesy of Community funders and TCC ratepayers.


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