There's a potential CENTRAL HINDS debut on the cards as the team flies to Dunedin for Round 3 of 2022/23 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.

Manawatu youngster JESSICA OGDEN comes into the squad for the first time, the only change from the team's winning opening weekend.

Said Hinds Head Coach JAMIE WATKINS, “Jess has been a consistent performer over the past few seasons for Manawatu, and comes in after a successful CD U19 campaign in the title winning team of 2020.

With such a strong bowling group in the Hinds set-up, it has been tough to break in so we are really excited that she now gets a chance to join the squad, and we're confident that if Jess is selected in the playing XI tomorrow, she will make an impact with her ability to swing the ball with accuracy.“

The 20-year-old pace right-armer from Palmerston North gets her opportunity with strike bowler ROSEMARY MAIR unavailable for the round, while top order bat EMILY CUNNINGHAM is still out with a calf niggle sustained in the lead-up to last weekend.

Images | MBUTCHER

It's otherwise a strong and experienced squad preparing to take on defending champions the Otago Sparks in the south this Saturday.

The Hinds are unbeaten after a convincing six-wicket win over the Auckland Hearts at Pukekura Park last Saturday, hitting the ground running in the opening round before a washout prevented a repeat dose on Sunday.

Saturday's match was a lucky break in the weather, the late-starting game reduced to 20 overs per side, and the Hinds able to take plenty of confidence from their performance not only through the HBJ lens, but looking ahead to the Dream11 Super Smash as well.

It was a relief for the Hinds whose back four matches at the end of the last summer were all washed out without a ball bowled, and captain NATALIE DODD sent in the Hearts for what proved to be a wait well worth it for the hosts.

The Hinds were sharp in the field, sticking most of their catches and chasing hard on a slow outfield, with the showstopped a pinpoint throw from WHITE FERN HANNAH ROWE from the deep square boundary to run out the dangerous and experienced Katie Perkins.

Rowe's arm rocketed the ball straight and flat to the keeper's gloves as Perkins desperately dove in vain at 60/3 in the 12th over.

After the early loss of Skye Bowden and Hearts captain Lauren Down restricted to just 14 by spinner JESS WATKIN (3-13), it was the turning point in the Hearts' innings and they crumbled to 86/9 in their 20 overs.

SCORECARD

Saachi Shahri top-scored with 34 but had departed in the following over, the Hinds replying with a careful chase in the slow conditions that often held up the ball short of the boundary.

They ticked off their target with three overs to spare, but will have kicked themselves for not getting across the line one ball earlier which would have also netted a bonus point and put them at the top of the table.

Rowe was also centre stage with the bat, unbeaten after a run-a-ball 30* in a 48*-run fifth wicket stand with captain Dodd (32* off 36).

The experienced pair calmly steadied the chase after Amberly Parr-Thomson (2-17) had taken her first two wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, in just her second appearance.

All Hinds one-dayers are free admission this summer, and we look forward to your strong support as usual for our flagship female team! Follow your team on our social media channels with #CENTRALHINDS

 

HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD

2022/23

 

University of Otago Oval • Dunedin

ROUND THREE • 10.30am Saturday, 26 November 2022

 

versus Otago Sparks

FREE ADMISSION

NATALIE Dodd – captain, w, Taranaki

JESS Watkin – vice-captain, Manawatu

GEORGIA Atkinson, Manawatu

CLAUDIA Green, Nelson

MIKAELA Greig, Manawatu

MELISSA Hansen, Wairarapa

KATE Gaging, Nelson

JESSICA Ogden, Manawatu –  potential Hinds and HBJ debut

CATE Pedersen, Hawke's Bay

MONIQUE Rees, Nelson

HANNAH Rowe, Manawatu

KERRY Tomlinson, Hawke's Bay

•
 

Head Coach – Jamie Watkins

Unavailable for selection:

Ashtuti Kumar and Ocean Bartlett (NZ Development tour of India)

Emily Cunningham (injury)

Rosemary Mair (personal reasons)

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Article added: Friday 25 November 2022