The Bay of Plenty Development team went within four runs of victory in the Northern Districts Development Championship decider played at the weekend.

Facing Hamilton for the right to lift aloft the Basil McBurney trophy aloft in triumph – the two sides were involved in a magical mystery tour early in the day.

When the two teams arrived at Smallbone Park in Rotorua, a look at the pitch revealed the covers had leaked water onto the pitch.

A number of urgent phone calls resulted in the two sides heading for the Te Puke Domain to play the title decider on a grass wicket.

Hamilton batted first and got away to a good start.

However, the momentum slowed as the Bay bowlers led by stand-in captain Daniel Hill started to hit their straps.

The ebb and flow of bat verses ball saw Hamilton dismissed in their last over for 222.

One player to make runs for the Waikato side was former Bay representative Steven Rae who posted a handy 35, with Peter Bocock top scoring for Hamilton with 43.

Hill troubled the Hamilton batsmen throughout and was rewarded with six wickets for just 25 runs.

Bay of Plenty opener Tim Clarke, who usually keeps wickets, repaid his selection as a specialist batsman to compile an aggressive 85.

Daniel Hill showcased his all-round talents batting at seven with a solid 32, with Cameron Neal posting a gritty 27 runs.

The match went down to the wire with the Bay needing four runs off the last ball of the match-up for victory, with a dot ball putting paid to the Bay of Plenty chance of grabbing the win.

However the Bay selectors can be well satisfied by the performance of a young Bay side, picked with the future in mind, who ran a strong Hamilton side so close.

The Bay of Plenty Women's side lost its ND Women's encounter against Waikato Valley at the BOP Oval.

Batting first, the Bay side was removed for 173, with Jacinta Coleman and Megan Murphy both posting 34 runs apiece.

Led by former White Fern Nicola Brown who smashed 69 not out, Waikato Valley cruised to a six-wicket victory.

ND Development Competition Result

Hamilton 222 (P Bocock 43, S Rae 35; Daniel Hill 6/25, Tom Clout 2/43) defeated BOP 219/9 (Tim Clarke 85, Daniel Hill 32, Cameron Neal 27)

ND Women's Match

BOP 173 (Jacinta Coleman 34, Megan Murphy 34, Kate Anderson 21) lost to Waikato Valley 174/4 (N Browne 69)