BLACKCAPS WILL YOUNG and JOSH CLARKSON are back in the Central Stags as the Stags and Hinds get ready to hit Palmerston North (27 DEC) and New Plymouth's Pukekura Park (29 + 30 DEC) for some holiday season T20 fun.

Young was named Player of the Series in the just-finished BLACKCAPS ODI Series against Bangladesh after scoring yet another ODI century and showcasing his outstanding fielding, while allrounder CLARKSON handled his maiden international series with ease.

The dynamic duo comes back to strengthen a side that went down to a stacked Northern Brave team in the opening Dream11 Super Smash round in Hamilton last week - albeit with the bright spot of a New Zealand record 10th wicket partnership between BLAIR TICKNER and JAYDEN LENNOX who cut loose with some clean sixes belying their status as tailenders.

Now the boot may be on the other foot, for the Brave are without Tim Southee, Mitch Santner and Tim Seifert (away with the BLACKCAPS for the T20 International Series that starts in Napier, under lights, tomorrow evening) while the Stags not only regain the class and experience of Young and Clarkson, but potent captain TOM BRUCE.

Bruce's return is subject to a fitness test after a niggly early season hernia operation that saw him miss the back end of The Ford Trophy and the first Dream11 Super Smash round at Seddon Park.

DOUG BRACEWELL will meanwhile continue to play as a batsman only as his knee strengthens, in a team that can't wait to be playing back in front of a home crowd at Fitzherbert Park this Wednesday - and with the weather looking good.

Get tickets online before you head to the game and you'll save at least $5 on Gate Prices.

The Central Hinds will play the first game of the Dream11 Super Smash doubleheader at 12.30PM followed by the Stags game at 4PM, with tickets getting Palmy punters into both matches - gates opening at 11.30AM and the earlybirds will beat the queues and get the best parking.

HOLLIE ARMITAGE AND THAMSYN NEWTON WERE ON HINDS T20 DEBUT TOGETHER IN HAMILTON

The Hinds are looking to continue their winning ways after a top start in Hamilton where the team looked a different unit to last season - strengthened by the arrival of impressive overseas pro HOLLIE ARMITAGE and former WHITE FERN THAMSYN NEWTON who both bring a full set of skills to the park, including electric feilding.

Newton is one of four capped WHITE FERNS in the team, alongside captain and opening bat NATALIE DODD, HANNAH ROWE and the player who can't stop taking wickets right now, ROSEMARY MAIR.

PHOTOSPORT

Swing bowler CLAUDIA GREEN has also been selected for a WHITE FERNS squad without getting a match and provided support for a MAIR-Y Christmas in Hamilton as the Napier seamer eclipsed her previous best T20 haul of 3/20 with a new PB of 3/18.

That comes after Mair's Hallyburton Johnstone Shield one-day career-best 6/41 earlier this month that also netted a double hat-trick.

It was the first hat-trick of any type in Hinds' history, and one of the very few instances of four wickets in four balls worldwide in women's List A cricket.

PHOTOSPORT

Hot off performing in the WHITE FERNS' home series against Pakistan, ROWE was meanwhile in great touch with the bat and slammed an unbeaten run-a-ball 35* at the death to bring home the six-wicket win against Northern Brave women in the last over.

After Palmy, the Stags and Hinds will head to New Plymouth for two big days against the Auckland Hearts and Aces (29 DEC) and Canterbury Magicians and Kings (30 DEC).

The Stags and Hinds will also each take a turn playing under lights at McLean Park on 8 and 10 January (against the Wellington and Otago teams), with tickets to all games and all the details at www.cdcricket.co.nz

Not in Palmy? Both T20s tomorrow at Fitzherbert Park are live on free to air TVNZ+ / TVNZ Duke, with livescoring here at www.cdcricket.co.nz

ROUND 2

FITZHERBERT PARK, PALMERSTON NORTH

Wednesday, 27 December 2023

12.30PM • Central Hinds v Northern Brave women

4.00PM • Central Stags v Northern Brave men

Gates open at 11.30PM

CENTRAL HINDS

Natalie Dodd — captain, wicketkeeper, Taranaki

Hannah Rowe — vice-captain, Manawatū 

Hollie Armitage — Overseas Player

Georgia Atkinson — Wairarapa

Flora Devonshire — Hawke’s Bay

Claudia Green — Nelson

Mikaela Greig  — Manawatū 

Ashtuti Kumar — Manawatū

Emma McLeod  (uncapped) — Wairarapa

Rosemary Mair — Hawke’s Bay

Thamsyn Newton — Hawke’s Bay

Kerry Tomlinson — 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

Will Clark — Hawke’s Bay

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Liam Dudding — Hawke’s Bay

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

* Tom Bruce is subject to a fitness test. Bayley Wiggins — Hawke’s Bay on standby

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Brett Randell - injury

Article added: 26 December 2023