A talented young Bay of Plenty batsmen has rewritten the BOPCA record book with a stunning display against Waikato Valley in a ND Fergus Hickey Rosebowl game.

Taylor Bettelheim scored 211 not out in an eye-catching innings at Blake Park.

Taylor became just the third, and youngest, Bay of Plenty player, since the Bay's first representative game in 1932, to break through the 200 run mark.

Bettelheim followed in the footsteps of Alex Lees, 223, in 2017, and Joe Carter, 215no, in 2014, in belting double centuries.

Bettelheim's huge total came from 325 balls with nineteen four's and two six's.

What made the performance even more remarkable, was that it was his second successive Bay representative century, taking his tally to four from just 15 Bay of Plenty appearances.

Bay of Plenty won the toss and chose to bat. While they lost their first wicket without a run being scored, Bettelheim and Bharat Popli, settled down to produce a 189 run second-wicket partnership.

Popli's dismissal for 81, brought Blair McKenzie to the crease who posted 35 runs before dismissal. Bay number five Fergus Lellman made a useful contribution with 33 runs.

Bay of Plenty declared early on day two at 401/3, with Bettelheim still resolute at one end on 211 not out and Tim Pringle with an unbeaten 28 in the book.

The Bay of Plenty team and management went through a full range of emotions during the two-day game, with the absolute high of a Bay of Plenty double century, to a low ebb of losing first innings points in the drawn match.

Few Bay of Plenty cricket fans, would have given Waikato Valley a chance of taking first innings points from the encounter, as they faced a target over four hundred runs.

However, they were resolute in their defiance, getting the required runs late on day two.

Despite the first innings point's loss, Bay of Plenty, are still in the hunt for the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl title.

Currently sitting five points behind Northland, with a game in hand, a big win over Counties Manukau in the last round of competition could propel them to the ND silverware.

There was better news from Galloway Park in Hamilton on Sunday, February 21, where the Bay of Plenty Development team defeated arch rivals Hamilton. Bay of Plenty set their rivals a solid target after being bowled out for 217.

Ben Vyver top scored with 68, with Michael Mitchell posting a half-century.

While Hamilton were in the match for much of the contest - the day belonged to young Tauranga bowler Finn Dempsey, who grabbed a six wicket bag, returning figures of 6/32 as the Waikato side were removed for 196.

The Bay Development victory, books them a return contest with Hamilton next Sunday, February 28, in the final of the ND Development competition.

ND Fergus Hickey Rosebowl 20/21 February 2021 @ Blake Park Mount Maunganui

Craigs Investment Partners Bay of Plenty 401/4 (Taylor Bettelheim 211no, Bharat Popli 81, Blair McKenzie 35, Fergus Lellman 33, Tim Pringle 28no).

Waikato Valley 402/5 (JWA Field 129, GC Child 86; Peter Drysdale 3/72).

Result: Waikato Valley took first innings points.

ND Development 217 (Ben Vyver 68, Michael Mitchell 51, Brandon Laurenzi 30) defeated Hamilton Development 196 (F Hill 56; Finn Dempsey 6/32).