The Bay Oval reputation as an international playing field that produces plenty of runs, while also giving bowlers the opportunity to weave their craft with bountiful results, continued in the 2023-24 season.
 
Two scheduled T20 International T20 fixtures, and the fifth test match at the Mount Maunganui ground, gave spectators plenty to look forward to in action packed competition.
 
South Africa, returned to Blake Park after a decade long absence, in the first leg of their two game series with the New Zealand Black Caps.
 
There had been plenty of chatter on social media about an under strength South African side, with a number of players staying home to participate in their T20 domestic competition. However, the test hosts were entirely focused on winning their first test series against South Africa, since competition began in 1932 between the two sides.
 
Black Cap skipper, Tim Southee, led his side into action on Sunday 4th February 2024 and after losing the toss the Black Caps were asked to bat first.
 
Devon Conway, was dismissed with the seventh ball of the match with Tom Latham also following in the first hour of play, with the Black Caps at 39 for the loss of two wickets.
 
What followed, with the arrival of Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra at the crease, will forever sit in a prominent place in the history of the game in our country.
 
The pair took an iron grip on the match, in producing a myriad of milestones, in a marathon partnership of 232 runs. The pair were at the wicket throughout the remainder of day one until Williamson was removed early on the second day with 118 runs to his name.
 
Ravindra, continued on to post a mammoth 240 off 366 balls before being dismissed. Matt Henry, batting at ten, entertained the crowd with 27 off just nine balls, before the hosts were bowled out for 511. Neil Brand produced a six wicket bag at a cost of 119 runs.
 
Stumps on day two saw South Africa in real trouble at 80/4. Proceedings didn't get any better for the tourists on day three, being rolled for just 162.
 
Kane Williamson, became the fifth New Zealand test batsman to post a century in both innings, with 109 in his second turn at bat, with the Black Caps declaring at 179 for the loss of four wickets.
 
South Africa faced a massive target of 528. While the South African middle order provided some resistance, they were never in the hunt, being bowled out some 281 runs short of the home sides total.
The last week of 2023, provided the backdrop to the Bangladesh visit to the Western Bay of Plenty. The visitors whistle-stop tour of the country, saw them scheduled for three ODIs and the same number of T20I, in just over two weeks at five different venues.
 
Rain eventually ruined the second match of the T20I series with New Zealand stranded on 72 for the loss of two wickets, in the opening encounter at the Bay Oval.
 
Needing a win to square the series in game three, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl. With rain clouds again on the horizon, Bangladesh never got their momentum going, and were dismissed for a modest 110.
 
Mitchell Santner grabbed four wickets, while Tim Southee took his 300th T20 wicket within his 2/25.
 
Finn Allen opened up with 38 runs, which was countered by four  Black Cap batsmen producing just a solitary run apiece. Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner  rescued their side with unbeaten knocks, of 28 and 18, before rain finally stopped play with New Zealand 16 runs ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis target.
 
ICC Test Match

4-8 February 2024 | NZ Black Caps v South Africa
New Zealand 511 (R Ravindra 240, KS Williamson 118; N Brand 6/119) & 179/4d (KS Williamson 109)
South Africa 162 (KD Petersen 45; MJ Henry 3/31, MJ Santner 3/34) & 147 (DG Besingham 87; KA Jamieson 4/58, MJ Santner 3/59)
Result: New Zealand won by 281 runs.

ICC T20I

Match One 29th December 2023

NZ Black Caps 72/2 Rained Out – no result

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Match Two 31st December
Bangladesh 110 (MJ Santner 4/16) lost to NZ Black Caps 95 from 14.4 overs (FH Allen 38) – DL method of deciding rain affected matches
 
ICC International Centuries

240  | R Ravindra (New Zealand v South Africa – Test)
118 | KS Williamson (New Zealand v South Africa – Test)
109 | KS Williamson (New Zealand v South Africa – Test)

ICC International Five Wickets or better  

 
6/119 | N Brand (South Africa v New Zealand – Test)

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