A long standing Bay of Plenty Cricket representative all-time record was broken at the Te Puke Domain over the weekend.

Bay of Plenty (and Northern Districts) batsman Bharat Popli broke Bay Cricket legend Mike Wright's record of 3950 runs.

The record has stood since the 1991/92 season in a ND Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match against Counties-Manuaku.

It is fitting Bharat broke the all-time total runs at the Te Puke Domain. The Te Puke Cricket Club was established in 1887 and has played a huge part in Bay of Plenty Cricket Association affairs, since it was constituted in 1932.

It is interesting to look back at the careers of the two long-serving Bay of Plenty batsmen. BOPCA player number 249, Michael John Edward Wright, made his Bay of Plenty debut as a 16-year-old against Poverty Bay on January 29, 1967, being called into the Bay side as a late replacement.

The batsman/wicket keeper would finish out his time in the blue and gold strip 25 seasons, having become the first Bay of Plenty representative to post 100 appearances for his province.

For most of his career, Wright would juggle his Bay of Plenty duties with ND appearances.

In the 1981/82 season, Wright surged past Richard Shrimpton's total of 1880 runs, posted in quick time in just eight seasons during the 1970's.

Such was Wright's dexterity with the gloves behind the stumps, that he was selected in the Hawke Cup team of the century.

It is interesting to note that while Wright finished his career with 102 caps, he played plenty more games for the BOP in one-day encounters, which weren't officially recognised in the all-time statistics until the 2006/07 season.

Bharat Popli (BOPCA Player No 494), made his first Bay of Plenty appearance against Hamilton on December 6, 2008, showcasing what was to come in the future, with a century (113) on debut.

Like Mike Wright, Popli earned ND selection, becoming a valuable team member to this day.

In the 2015/16 season, he was recognised as the NZ Cricket Domestic Player of the Year after belting 1149 runs at an average of 65.78.

However, Bharat has set himself apart in the Bay of Plenty all-time batting ranks, with 13 centuries, five ahead of current Northern Brave skipper Joe Carter.

The only little criticism of his run scoring feats was that he didn't have a big ton to his name, was well and truly put to rest last season with 191 against Counties Manukau.

The weekend Fergus Hickey encounter at the Te Puke Domain also produced another notable achievement.

Tim Pringle became just the ninth Bay of Plenty bowler to take eight wickets in an innings.

While Popli is likely in the later days of his sterling career, Pringle is at the other end of the spectrum, as one of the Bay of Plenty Cricket young guns.

When Pringle (BOPCA Player No 536) made his Bay of Plenty debut against Northland in November 2017, he became the youngest player to earn Bay selection at 15 years and 92 days, taking the record from Kane Williamson by 19 days.

Pringle further wrote his name into the BOP all-time bowling record book, with an additional four second innings wickets, to become the fifteenth Bay bowler to take ten wickets or better in a match.

Since his Bay of Plenty debut, Pringle has taken 67 wickets from 30 appearances, with his all-round talents recognised at higher levels.

New Zealand Under 19 selection has been followed with NZC Development team selection this season, where he has starred with both bat and ball.

Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz