Hawke's Bay attack bowler Liam Dudding disproved the myth that the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui is a batsman's paradise, early on in the opening morning of the Hawke Cup Direct Challenge.

Hawke's Bay won the toss and asked Bay of Plenty to bat on a track where the hosts hand scored 701 in the first Hawke Cup Direct Challenge of the season two weeks previously.

Skipper Peter Drysdale was the first to go with 39 runs on the board.

The next half hour was dominated by the going and going of the Bay batsmen, as the home side slumped to 7/54. The Bay of Plenty collapse saw three batsmen fall at the 51 run mark.

Donovan Deeble and Brenton Thompson, playing in just his second game in the Bay of Plenty uniform, then set about restoring Bay of Plenty pride.

When Donovan Deeble was given out LBW to the bowling of Angus Schaw, the Bay had reached some respectability at 139 for the loss of eight wickets.

Brenton Thompson continued on to be the last Bay of Plenty batsman out, with the number eight posting 45 runs, as Bay of Plenty were removed for 170 with the second ball of the 56^th over.

The star of the show for Hawke's Bay was Liam Dudding, who grabbed the first six Bay of Plenty wickets to finish with figures of 6/46.

The home side removal was an almost identical situation to when Hawke's Bay were dismissed for 162 in last year's Hawke Cup loss to Bay of Plenty.

Hawke's Bay came back with a big score in their second turn at bat with the game going down to the wire on day three.

However, the Bay of Plenty bowlers struck back with a vengeance as Hawke's Bay went to the batting crease full of confidence.

With Hawke's Bay also in deep trouble at 70 for the loss of six wickets – first day honours well and truly belong to the bowlers from both sides.

Hawke Cup Direct Challenge 2017 – Day One

Bay of Plenty 170 (DM Deeble 61, BH Thompson 45, TJ MacRury 25; LR Dudding 6/46) – Hawkes Bay 70/6 (DM Deeble 2/12, SB Davey 2/15, CM Atkinson 2/25) at stumps on day one.