The recuperative powers of the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui were on display in spades yesterday, on the second day of the Hawke Cup Directive Challenge between Bay of Plenty and Southland.

Continuous overnight and morning rainfall made the chances of play look improbable, however Southland recommenced their turn batting at 2.10pm, resuming at 187/5.

The home side bowlers struck quickly, taking five wickets in the first hour's play. Jason Domigan continued on from his overnight total of 73 runs, before he was out from the bowling of Sean Davey for 82.

Batting at seven, Jack Mockford posted 22 runs, with Southland eventually removed for 247 just before tea. Jono Boult was the best of the home sides bowling attack taking three wickets for 44 runs.

The Southland bowlers struck early grabbing their first wicket with just 16 runs on the board. The second Bay of Plenty wicket fell at the 30 run mark. Bad light stopped play with Bay of Plenty having plenty of work to do on day three, at 70 for the loss of three wickets.

Meanwhile, wet weather put paid to the last round of the Williams Cup regular season on Saturday, with the semi-final playoffs encounters determined by last weekend's results.

Element IMF Cadets finished at the top of the standings and will play Carrus Mount Maunganui in the major semi-final at the Tauranga Domain. The winner of the match will progress straight through to the Williams Cup Grand Final on 25 March 2017, with the loser given another bite of the cherry against the minor semi-final winner the following Sunday.

A sudden death match-up will take place at Pemberton Park between Eves Realty Greerton and New World Te Puke. The prize at stake is a place in the preliminary final, against the major semi-final loser, while the beaten team can reflect on the ups and downs of the Baywide Cricket season.