Cricket: Double header weekend for Hinds in New Plymouth

Margot Butcher

The Central Hinds play their final two rounds of the 2023/24 national season at home, at New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park this weekend, 17 and 18 February against Northern Districts, with both matches free admission.

It's the last chance to see the team after a special summer that brought their first two hat-tricks in history - Rosemary Mair (with four wickets in four balls)  in the one-dayers and Claudia Green in the T20s - as well as a Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final last-over thriller. 

Now the team hopes to have a few more tricks up their sleeves as they host Northern Districts in rounds nine (Saturday) and 10 (Sunday) in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield national one-day championship, from 10.30am.

Sadly the team has been affected by washouts more than other teams, losing two of the eight previous rounds to weather - and with two wins and four losses, that leaves them down the table, unable to catch the top two who will go on to the Final.

But there's pride and each other to play for, and the team's looking forward to their faithful home ground support this weekend as they look to finish a great season on a strong note.

Regular Mikaela Greig is unavailable with a wedding this weekend while Mair and Kerry Tomlinson remain sidelined by injuries, leading to continued opportunities for a squad packed with young talent.

Nelson pace bowler Anna Gaging is coming off a brilliant five-wicket bag for CD A Women against Northern Districts A in Hamilton last weekend and joins her twin sister Kate Gaging in the 12-strong squad while fielding gun Thamsyn Newton returns after having been unavailable for the previous two rounds in Wellington. 

Tomlinson will meanwhile be keeping busy as Head Coach of CD A Women who have fixtures against Wellington A at Johnsonville's Alex Moore Park this Sunday and Monday.

HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD

Pukeura Park, New Plymouth

Central Hinds v Northern Districts

ROUND 9 • 10.30am Saturday, 17 February 2024

ROUND 10 • 10.30am Sunday, 18 February 2024

Livescoring: www.cdcricket.co.nz

CENTRAL HINDS (12)

Natalie Dodd — captain, wicketkeeper, Taranaki

Aniela Apperley — Hawke’s Bay

Georgia Atkinson — Wairarapa

Ocean Bartlett  — Wairarapa

Flora Devonshire — Hawke’s Bay

Anna Gaging — Nelson

Kate Gaging — Nelson

Claudia Green  — Nelson

Ashtuti Kumar  — Manawatū

Emma McLeod — Wairarapa

Thamsyn Newton — Hawke’s Bay

Hannah Rowe — Manawatū

Coach: Jacob Oram

Assistant Coach: Deepak Joon