A much missed member of the CENTRAL STAGS squad is back in action at last this week after having missed the meat of the summer to injury.

Paceman BRETT RANDELL has returned for CENTRAL DISTRICTS A this week in the three-day fixture with Northern Districts A in Napier for his first CD trot since mid-November during the early part of the Plunket Shield championship.

A torn pectoral muscle subsequently saw Randell miss the Stags' entire white-ball season this summer, a particular disappointment for the handy all-round player after having been named The Ford Trophy Player of the Year at the 2023 CD Cricket Awards.

He had finished last summer as the top equal one-day wicket-taker nationally, with 18 victims from just eight games in the title-winning season for the Stags.

Randell's inclusion in the CD A Men's team at Nelson Park is a signal he's not far away from returning to action in the Plunket Shield - albeit not in time for the resumption of the first-class championship this Thursday, ironically in his own hometown at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

The Stags squad for the match will be named tomorrow and the side will resume the Plunket Shield well positioned in the top three on 43 points. And, there's a big chance to gain ground on current leader Northern Districts in this week's match, ND on 58 points after four of the eight rounds.

Twenty points will be up for grabs at Bay Oval, after which the Stags head home for the business end of their summer to Palmerston North (hosting the Wellington Firebirds from 8-11 March) and Napier (hosting the Auckland Aces from 16-19 March and the Otago Volts from 24-27 March in the final round), both games at McLean Park and all Plunket Shield matches free admission).

PHOTOSPORT

Having missed out on the opportunity to defend their Ford Trophy title already this season, and not having reached the Dream11 Super Smash playoffs either after several unfortunate injuries across the season, the Plunket Shield now presents the last chance for the team to win some silverware for 2023/24 and back up their brilliant championship win in this format from last summer.

Taranaki's JORDAN GARD has again been named as CD A captain after a one-all series with NZC's Men's Development XI over the last week at Donnelly Park.

Hawke's Bay duo TYLER ANNAND and SAM CASSIDY were both selected for the Development squad but now step back in for CD A Men in the free admission three-dayer at busy Nelson Park.

TOBY FINDLAY, BAYLEE FOOTE (fresh off his first Hawke Cup century after Hawke's Bay again defended the historic chalice over the weekend), JACK HARRIS, BRETT JOHNSON, BEVAN SMALL and BEN SMITH were all unavailable for this week's A fixture which starts at 10.30am each day.

LIVESCORES

Skipper Jordie Gard won the toss and elected to bowl first, Randell straight into his work with two early wickets before ND youngster Fergus Lellman fought back with a century on the first day.

SHAY SMITH meanwhile was rewarded with three more wickets before tea. Learn more about CD A here.
 

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A MEN

v

NORTHERN DISTRICTS A MEN

Nelson Park, Napier

Three-Day match : 10.30AM

Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 February 2024

JORDIE Gard (captain) – Taranaki

TYLER Annand – Hawke's Bay

TAYLOR Bettelheim – Wairarapa 

SAM Cassidy – Hawke's Bay

NIC Clark (wicketkeeper) - Nelson

JAKE Jonas – Wairarapa 

BAYLEY Latter – Manawatū  

BRETT Randell - Central Stags contracted squad

MATT Rowe – Manawatū 

SHAY Smith - Taranaki

BAILEY Te Tomo - Horowhenua-Kapiti

BAYLEY WIGGINS – Hawke's Bay

 

Head Coach – Aldin Smith (CDCA)

Article added: Tuesday 27 February 2024