KA TOA ANŌ TŌ WĀHINE
It’s been a successful week for Central Hinds GEORGIA ATKINSON, KERRY TOMLINSON and OCEAN BARTLETT.
The trio heads straight from retaining the RONA McKENZIE TAONGA in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this afternoon at the NZC Māori Nationals | Whakataetae Kirikiti Māori ā-Motu Mō Ngā Wāhine, to New Plymouth to get ready for tomorrow’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-dayers.
The NZC national one-day competition resumes with the Hinds naming a squad of 13 to host Northern Districts in the free-admission matches at Pukekura Park this Saturday and Sunday, Atkinson and Tomlinson fresh off leading CD Māori Wāhine to victory in their Final at Lloyd Elsmore Park, against Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
CD Māori Wāhine won the inaugural female Māori nationals when they were held in Hastings early last season, and retained the title after dropping just one game this summer.
The final day of the NZC Māori tournament — the Wāhine and Tāne teams together for the first time, also delivered a second win for CD Māori Tāne who, two days earlier, had celebrated their first ever victory together after defeating Northern Māori by 10 wickets with almost four overs to spare.
Another win on the final day, by eight wickets against Te Waipounamu (the combined team from the Canterbury and Otago Associations) saw CD Māori Tāne seal a top three finish.
With most of the inaugural tīma from two years ago in Whangārei back for more, the Tāne savoured the improved showings — a testament to the strong team bond among the team.
The Tāne competition was a round robin whilst the Wāhine structure was able to incorporate semi-finals and a Final, CD Māori Wāhine having beaten Northern Māori by five wickets to make the Rona McKenzie Taonga match.
The Final began with a couple of dramatic early run-outs, CD restricting Te Whanganui-a-Tara to 95 in 19 overs.
MACY LYFORD walked away with a fine 3/9 off her two overs before the CD Wāhine put on an exhibition in the run chase.
Atkinson led from the top with an unbeaten 41* and was joined by Hinds teammate Tomlinson (34 not out off 30 balls) — who had found her straps with the bat towards the end of the Dream11 Super Smash — at 31/2.
There would be no further wickets as the pair brought it home in 16.4 overs, the beautiful carved trophy set to remain at CD’s HQ for some time yet.
Tāne tournament team | PHOTOSPORT
With attention turning swiftly to the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the next assignment will be to help the Hinds retain their top two position after six rounds of the national one-day comp.
The Hinds are part of a tight chasing pack with runaway leader the Otago Sparks way out in front, and just a stone’s throw away from inking in a qualifying spot in the Dunedin Grand Final.
Uncapped Taranaki contracted Hind GRACE FOREMAN has again been named in the one-day squad, while ASHTUTI KUMAR follows up her recent Dream11 Super Smash return with her potential first appearance in the longer format this season, having recovered from knee surgery.
EMMA McLEOD also returns to the Hinds after the U19 World Cup, while ROSEMARY MAIR and ANNA GAGING remain unavailable as they recover from injury.
The Hinds haven’t had a lot of luck with weather over the last two years of the HBJ, but New Plymouth has turned on the sunshine for what promises to be a big weekend at Pukekura Park, both matches free admission from 10.30am and livestreamed at www.cdcricket.co.nz
Article added: Friday 7 February 2025
