**Official** New Zealand Domestic Season 2013/2014

[Flem274*]

holy **** elliott's dismissal was limp.

 

[Flem274*]

ND rightly punishing that Canterbury attack. Canty really have built their entire campaign on Bennett, Henry and Astle and when you remove two of them...

 

[hendrix]

Of course, Bracewell could just be a stoic dude and not apathetic at all.

 

[Athlai]

Wellington

 

[straw man]

Six-fer for Gillespie. The highlight of his How wicket suggests he's bowling a bit quicker than his recent booming phase.

 

[hendrix]

too little, too late for Gillespie IMO. what a shame.

 

[Flem274*]

bit annoyed watling didnt cash in

 

[NZTailender]

Who has the best top 5 atm? Toss up between Canterbury and Otago for mine

Fulton
Latham
Brownlie
Nicholls

vs

Redmond
Rutherford
Bracewell
Broom

 

[Bahnz]

Hundred for Rutherford. Even if it is at EOO, that's still good to see.

 

[straw man]

Edit: @NZT, didn't see Bahnz' post

Believe it or not Wellington have the most batting points in the competition. However I'd have to go with Otago atm - Redmond and Broom as domestic stalwarts that will always play, plus M Bracewell starting to perform is fairly good. Canterbury have shown a liking for the collapse, won't usually have Fulton and may lose Latham as well soon.

Rutherford smacked 108(107) today at EPOO, with four sixes. So I guess he's not compromising on that see-ball-hit-ball MO.

 

[hendrix]

Hundred for Rutherford. Even if it is at EOO, that's still good to see.

yeah. Pretty average attack and an easy ground, but he certainly needed those runs along with the 96 last game.

 

[Immenso]

As at the start of this round.

Canterbury top of the table, yet have only scored 3 centuries between them in the 6 games.

CD bottom of the table, have only scored 2 centuries in 6 games.

Canterbury are going to really miss Bennett and Henry this round.

 

[Flem274*]

fulton and latham denying boult and sad face so far

 

[hendrix]

Looks like a phenomenal spell from Boulty. Latham up to it so far.

 

[RxGM]

Disappointed to see Wheeler injury again

 

[Kippax]

Cricket: Small's keeping it sweet - Hawkes Bay Today - Hawke's Bay Today News

For Bevan Small the mission is pretty uncomplicated - do the job and get off the park in the shortest possible time.

"The rib on the side is still niggly with the same old symptoms but I've been managing it," said the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags seamer after the demolition of the Wellington Firebirds for a sub-par 172 in 51 overs.

"We haven't had too many overs to bowl recently, with skittling ND [last round for CD's first victory in any format at the same venue], and I wasn't too long out in the paddock so the workload hasn't been too heavy and I'm still trucking along," he said.

Small returned to domestic cricket after Christmas following surgery in April to prevent his 11th rib from hitting the top of his hip bone at the height of deliveries.

In reply, CD were 103-5 in 39 overs, with the visitors sniffing a comeback after the first day of the four-day Plunket Shield match at McLean Park, Napier.


"It was quite good. We came out after lunch and there was quite a bit of pressure so I got there and had the ball swinging around a little bit and things started happening after that," said Small, who turns 22 late next month.

He cashed in with 3-23 at a miserly 1.92 runs an over on a "decent wicket", confirming the Heinrich Malan-coached CD would have bowled had the coin flipped in their favour.

"I'd prefer to take the new ball but the make-up of the side is with Dougie and Wheels up there, so I'm happy to follow up to do the job at first change," he said of Black Cap test seamer Doug Bracewell and Ben Wheeler.

Bracewell (3-59 at 3.93 runs an over) and captain Kieran Noema-Barnett (4-26 at 2.36) kept the Wellington batsmen honest, with openers Josh Brodie (51) and Michael Papps (45) establishing a first-wicket stand of 68 as others came and went like customers at a bank foyer.

Despite losing five wickets in 39 overs, Small said CD were upbeat they were still on the front foot.

"Well 170 is still well below par, so we're really happy with our bowling but, obviously, we're not very happy with losing early wickets.

"Pappsy played really well ... so he was a key wicket," he said of the leading run scorer in first-class cricket this summer, with 754 runs after yesterday's knock to sit comfortably ahead of Auckland's Martin Guptill (613) and Otago's Jesse Ryder (573) as the latter two are on Black Cap test duties.

When No3 Carl Cachopa on 35 not out, and Mr Reliable Kruger van Wyk 5 not out at No7, resume this morning the Stags will look to build on their 103 runs.

"If they get a good start in the morning, who knows what will happen, because it looks like a nice batting track out there, so the runs will flow."

He said there was no talk of rain in the changing sheds at stumps but the forecast is for light rain until 2pm before clearing until 8pm.

While there was not as much greenish tinge on the wicket, as it was against the Northern Districts Knights, Small said they were not worried when the James Franklin-captained Firebirds padded up.

Taking stock, Franklin said: "We were 115-2 and then to be all out for 172 in the middle session is obviously not good enough for a first-class cricket side.

"They held all their catches [and] we played some pretty average shots among some more good bowling from them."

The former Black Cap lauded his men for the way they came back with the ball, because it would have been a different story had the defending champions been 100-2 when the white coats lifted the bails.

"One more wicket for us tonight would have probably been parity for us, so CD are probably still on the front foot," he said, believing a couple of scalps in the first hour today would make amends.

Franklin felt there was a dry nature to the wicket which justified his decision to bat first, believing "very good" spinners in ex-internationals Jeetan Patel and Luke Woodcock would become pivotal.

While mindful rain coming off the sea could hang around, the man in the IPL auction said it was out of their control.

"If it rains we'll have to sit tight and hope and pray we can get out there at some stage," he said of the Firebirds, who are sitting in second place on the table behind the Canterbury Wizards.

 

[Kippax]

New Zealand Cricket - Warming up in Whangarei

The NZ XI will be coached by NZA and NZ Under 19s coach Grant Bradburn, who is excited about the opportunities the match offers. "The players will get a taste of the next level as well as the chance to show what they can do, and we'll get to see how they respond. I think we're starting to see wonderful depth at the top levels thanks to selectors Mike Hesson and Bruce Edgar's work.

"We're obviously up against a top international side in India, and the guys are jumping out of their skins to get into it. I've spoken to them all about the chance to push their games forward in this match and putting their hand up for the selectors at their own Associations and nationally," said Bradburn.

The format is a two-day match, with 100 overs to be played each day. "This will be a good hit out for India, we're respectful of what they need out of the match and will work with them to offer that, but at the same time we'll be doing our utmost to go through them!" said Bradburn.

New Zealand XI
Anton Devcich – Northern Knights (Captain)
George Worker - Canterbury Wizards
Robbie O’Donnell - NZ 19 / Auckland Aces
Jono Hickey - Northern Knights
Tim Siefert – NZ U19 / Northern Knights (Wicketkeeper)
Henry Walsh - Wellington Firebirds
Jono Boult - Northern Knights
Roald Badenhorst – Central Districts
Iain McPeake - Wellington Firebirds
Ill Tugaga - Wellington Firebirds
Tipene Friday - Auckland Aces
Shawn Hicks – NZ U19 / Auckland Aces

With the Under 19 World Cup starting on 15 February, this is a great chance for the three NZ Under 19 players in the side to pit themselves against the very best. Keep an eye on the U19 side's skipper Robbie O'Donnell, a batsman from the Auckland Aces, Tim Siefert, a wicketkeeper / bastman from the Northern Knights, and Shawn Hicks, a very promising all rounder from the Aces. Many of the NZ Under 19 side are playing for a Canterbury XI against Tasmania this weekend also for further World Cup preparation.

NZ XI v India starts at 10.30am on Sunday, tickets are $10 on the gate, with school age children free.

Charging because some Indians might expect to pay, eh.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Is this a proper First Class game or a joke match where India will field 14 players.

Either way, obviously hoping that Henry Walsh can go large.

 

[Kippax]

Yeah, a two-day super sub joke match.

 

[Howsie]

ND rightly punishing that Canterbury attack. Canty really have built their entire campaign on Bennett, Henry and Astle and when you remove two of them...

But Popli and Santner would struggle to play first class cricket anywhere else......