Napier's Nelson Park will be the scene of the next Hawke Cup Challenge match, from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 March, where new holder Hawke's Bay will be hoping to lock away the coveted trophy for the winter while challengers Hamilton will be hoping that history repeats from two summers ago.
Hamilton is again this season's Zone 1 qualifier and, like Hawke's Bay, are strong recent holders of the silverware in the historic provincial competition.
The two teams last met on 14 February last year when Hawke's Bay challenged, but came away unsuccessful from Hamilton's Galloway Park after a dogged century from Elliott Santner - the brother of BLACKCAP Mitch Santner in a Hamilton side that included BJ Watling, Anton Devcich, Jimmy Baker and Peter Bocock.
BLACKCAP Watling won't be available this time, and nor will any other players from either side involved in the Plunket Shield, with the Central Stags playing concurrently across the road at McLean Park from 11-14 March against the Wellington Firebirds as the first-class season resumes.
Hawke's Bay last held the Hawke Cup in March 2019, having just uplifted the Cup from Nelson at Saxton Oval.
Hamilton then travelled to Nelson Park for the last Challenge match of that summer and won by 64 runs to take the spoils back to Galloway Park.
Hawke's Bay of course will be determined that history does not repeat on this occasion, and you'll be able to follow the rivalry every step of the way with livescoring at nzc.nz or on the NZC app.
