Opportunities knock for the up and coming generation of female CD cricketers over this coming weekend.

Central Districts A Women is heading off to play Northern Districts A in three annual 'near neighbour' away fixtures in Hamilton this weekend, while NZC has shoulder-tapped five CD youngsters for a three-day NZ Under 19 training camp in Lincoln that starts this Friday.

Central Hinds batter EMMA McLEOD has already represented New Zealand at an ICC Women's Under 19 World Cup (starring in South Africa early last year) and, at just 17, will be one of the more experienced faces at the Under 19 national camp that includes three intersquad practice games between a "Devine XI" and "Bates XI" under the eyes of NZC high performance staff.

Emma McLeod | PHOTOSPORT

Wairarapa's McLeod will be joined by other young Central Hinds or CD age-group representatives in Manawatū's ABBY TREDER, Napier-based Central Hind ANIELA APPERLEY, and Taranaki pair GRACE FOREMAN and SOPHIE CAMPBELL in a 24-strong training group in Lincoln, with NZC coaching and high performance staff on hand as the broad base preparation continues towards selecting a side for the next ICC World Cup.

Twelve players named for CD A Women this weekend will meanwhile be coached by CDCA female pathway lead JAMIE WATKINS and Central Hind KERRY TOMLINSON - with the Hinds back in action the following weekend, in New Plymouth.

Kate Gaging | PHOTOSPORT

Captained by KATE GAGING, the A squad draws players from all over the widespread CD catchment to take on near neighbours Northern Districts A.

Gaging and her pace-bowling twin sister ANNA GAGING won’t be the only South Islanders heading to Hamilton, with Marlborough’s leading light EDEN PETTIGREW named in the squad after a big summer for Marlborough women who were included in the Mike Shrimpton Trophy schedule on a trial basis for the first time.
 

EMILY CUNNINGHAM, JESSIE HOLLARD and SARAH PARKER all join the squad from Taranaki, while Mike Shrimpton Trophy champion Hawke’s Bay supplies EMMA FINDLAY.

Manawatū provides two capped Hinds in SAM MACKINDER who will job-share the wicketkeeping duties with captain Gaging, and pace bowler JESS OGDEN.

The balance of the squad represent the emerging stronghold of Wairarapa, with MACY LYFORD, LIV CLARK and ELIZABETH COHR all named in the travelling twelve.

Last summer's CD A squad enjoyed a clean sweep over ND A in the first edition of these matches at St Paul's Collegiate.

But the tables were turned earlier this season when CD A Women hosted ND at Lindisfarne College in return, ND A winning all three contests in Hastings across the white-ball formats.

Revenge could be nigh, with Saturday's programme including two T20s (starting from 11am), before a 50-over one-dayer this Sunday from 10am, with livescoring at www.nzc.nz and on the NZC app.

Learn more about CD A here.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A WOMEN

v NORTHERN DISTRICTS A WOMEN

St Paul's Collegiate ground, Hamilton

T20 x 2 : Saturday 10 February 2024

One-Day match : 10am, Sunday 11 February 2024

KATE Gaging (captain, wicketkeeper) – Nelson 

EMILY Cunningham - Taranaki

JESSIE Hollard – Taranaki 

SAM Mackinder (wicketkeeper) – Manawatū

JESSICA Ogden – Manawatū  

SARAH Parker – Taranaki 

ELIZABETH Cohr – Wairarapa 

OLIVIA Clark – Wairarapa 

EMMA Findlay – Hawke's Bay 

MACY Lyford – Wairarapa

EDEN Pettigrew – Marlborough 

ANNA Gaging – Nelson 

 

Coaching staff – Jamie Watkins and Kerry Tomlinson

Article added: Thursday 8 February 2024