Bay of Plenty opened the second half of their Fergus Hickey Rosebowl season with a comprehensive 160-run win against Poverty Bay at the Bay Oval.

In picture perfect conditions, Bay of Plenty took first use of the wicket and were in immediate trouble when one of their openers was dismissed without a run being scored.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl action. Photo: File.

However, Bharat Popli, batting at three, and Tom MacRury got the Bay side back on track, with the second wicket falling with 70 runs on the board.

Popli went on to craft a solid 59 runs, with Mitch McCann also in top form posting a half century.

The arrival of skipper Peter Drysdale upped the ante, with the Bay captain top scoring with an unbeaten 69.

At 213/4, the home side were well in control, however some injudicious shots by the lower order batsmen resulted in the Bay all out for 255.

Northern Districts Under-17 bowler Jak Rowe showed his immense potential, taking a five wicket bag for Poverty Bay.

But one way traffic was the story of the Poverty Bay turn at bat, with the sides top score of 22 reflecting the regular coming and going of the visitors batsmen, removed for just 95.

Mitch McCann was the best of the Bays bowling attacking, grabbing three wickets at a cost of just five runs.

Andrew Gibbs, Alex Gooding and Jason Trembath also bowled with real enthusiasm to take two wickets apiece.

The Bays next encounter is their last Brian Dunning Trophy game, for the ND one-day silverware against Waikato Valley at Cambridge on February 1, before rounding out their representative season with two-day matches with Hamilton and Poverty Bay.

Fergus Hickey Rosebowl Result, January 11:

Bay of Plenty 255 (Peter Drysdale 69no, Bharat Popli 59, Mitch McCann 53; Jak Rowe 5/68) defeated Poverty Bay 95 (TW Hayes 22; M McCann 3/5, Andrew Gibbs 2/23, Alex Gooding 2/24, Jason Trembath 2/29)

Bay of Plenty Fergus Hickey Rosebowl Draw 2015

February 1 v Waikato Valley at Cambridge Square

February 21/22 v Hamilton at Galloway Park, Hamilton

March 7/8 v Poverty Bay at Harry Barker Reserve, Gisborne