Injuries in the CENTRAL HINDS and CENTRAL STAGS camps ahead of tomorrow's Dream11 Super Smash doubleheader in Wellington have brought changes to both squads.

The Stags are fresh off a memorable win against the Otago Volts in which WILL YOUNG became the first player in Stags history to score two T20 centuries for the team overall.

AJAZ PATEL wrapped up a great night in Napier with his best four-fa in the Stags T20 green, spinning his magic with 4/24.

DANE CLEAVER had earlier got things humming with his first half century of the campaign and BEVAN SMALL kept up his own big wicket-taking ways with a haul of 3/19 - to add to his useful previous collections of 4/22, 3/46 and 2/17.

PHOTOSPORT

Small is the team's runaway top wicket-taker with 12 wickets from the five games, as well as now the leading overall wicket-taker in the league this summer.

Those were the Stags highlights from a special night in Napier, but the lowlight was watching JOSH CLARKSON leave the middle with a painful shoulder injury, after having dived hard to try to avoid being run out.

The injury couldn't have come at a more disappointing time for the popular big allrounder who was last week named in the BLACKCAPS T20 International squad for the first time. Clarkson will have a scan today to assess the damage.

BAYLEY WIGGINS drops out of the squad as batters JACK BOYLE and CURTIS HEAPHY return for Wellington where the Stags will be looking to bring down the men's league leaders, the Firebirds, at the Cello Basin Reserve from 4PM.

The Stags have climbed back into fourth spot on the men's ladder with 12 points, 10 behind the Firebirds, and needing to overtake the Aces and Kings who both have 16 points. Each win is worth four points, and after tomorrow the Stags will play the Aces in Auckland and Volts again in Dunedin to try to secure that all important top three spot for Finals.

Paceman BRETT RANDELL is still on the comeback trail from his pectoral injury.

The CENTRAL HINDS are meanwhile eager to get back to winning ways after two losses, both against two of the strongest teams in the league.

Suzie Bates led the Otago Sparks to a comfortable victory in Napier and two days earlier it was classy Melie Kerr and women's competition leader the Wellington Blaze who were celebrating in a closer affair.

Holly Armitage celebrates as Thamsyn Newton catches Felicity Robertson | MBUTCHER

Now the Hinds gear up for another crack at the Blaze from 12.30PM tomorrow away at the Basin, with Wairarapa allrounder OCEAN BARTLETT and Nelson batter KATE GAGING both coming into the squad for the first time this season.

Gaging and Bartlett are in for captain NATALIE DODD who didn't bat in her 50th cap match in Napier with a back niggle, while KERRY TOMLINSON picked up a shoulder injury while diving in the field at McLean Park.

Uncapped EMMA McLEOD has also dropped out of the 12 after an injury at the concurrent Gillette Venus Women's Under 19 Nationals, where GRACE FOREMAN has taken over as Under 19 captain to see out the tournament today.

Hannah Rowe will captain in Wellington | PHOTOSPORT

HANNAH ROWE will captain the Hinds in Dodd's absence, having led the team in the past, with the team well positioned in second spot on the points table - equal on points with the Otago Sparks, but still with a higher net run rate.

Should the Hinds finish the regular season in second spot, they will host this season's Elimination Finals in CD.

The Blaze are meanwhile out in front and six points ahead, so a Hinds win would narrow the gap to just two points.

PHOTOSPORT

It's a challenge the aren't underestimating after Melie Kerr's brilliant 5/10 against the Canterbury Magicians in Christchurch, yesterday - the best figures in the history of the women's league.

Gates will be open in Wellington from 11.30am and you can catch all the action live on TVNZ+ with livescores here at www.cdcricket.co.nz 

The Hinds and Stags then head to Auckland and Dunedin to round out the regular season, with both teams still in contention to make the top three for the Final playoffs.

ROUND 8 • CELLO BASIN RESERVE, WELLINGTON

13 JANUARY 2024

12.30PM • Wellington Blaze v Central Hinds

4PM • Wellington Firebirds v Central Stags

FULL SCHEDULE

CENTRAL HINDS

Hannah Rowe — captain, Manawatū 

Hollie Armitage — Overseas Player

Georgia Atkinson — Wairarapa

Ocean Bartlett — Wairarapa

Priyanaz Chatterji — (Nelson) Overseas Player

Flora Devonshire — Hawke’s Bay

Kate Gaging — wicketkeeper, Nelson

Claudia Green — Nelson

Mikaela Greig  — Manawatū 

Ashtuti Kumar — Manawatū

Rosemary Mair — Hawke’s Bay

Thamsyn Newton — Hawke’s Bay

• Head Coach — Jacob Oram

• Assistant Coach — Deepak Joon

CENTRAL STAGS

Tom Bruce — captain, Taranaki

Dane Cleaver — vice-captain, wicketkeeper, Manawatū

Doug Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay

Jack Boyle — Hawke’s Bay 

Will Clark — Hawke’s Bay

Curtis Heaphy — Manawatū 

Joey Field — Hawke’s Bay

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Ajaz Patel — Hawke’s Bay

Bevan Small — Manawatū 

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Will Young — Taranaki

• Head Coach —  Ben F. Smith

• Assistant Coach — Glenn Pocknall

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Brett Randell - injury (chest)

Josh Clarkson - injury (shoulder)

Natalie Dodd - injury (back)

Kerry Tomlinson - injury (shoulder)

Emma McLeod - injury

Will Young is fresh off an unbeaten 101* in Napier | MBUTCHER

Article added: Friday 12 January 2024