Seizing his T20 opportunity to play his first full Dream11 Super Smash campaign, ANGUS SCHAW sits among the country’s top six most economical bowlers leading into tomorrow's big McLean Park clash with the Auckland Aces.

Schaw's produced his T20 career best with both bat and ball so far this season - having been used only sporadically in the past.

An injury to Stags BLACKCAP AJAZ PATEL sustained in last round of the Plunket Shield before the Super Smash opened the door to a bigger role for the 30-year-old as the team’s second spinner, alongside more established left-armer and fellow Hawke’s Bay scion, JAYDEN LENNOX.

Schaw says the regular game-time has helped him settle into a good rhythm with the team.

"Ajaz being out is obviously unfortunate, but it gives me an opportunity, and I’m hoping to take it. I am looking to keep building, and to gain more confidence.

"There’s a little bit of pressure off [me] because I know I’ve got a little bit of time here with the team, and it’s an awesome team to be part of - hopefully for a few more years to come.”

Schaw isn’t the first in his Central Hawke’s Bay-based family to make an impact in the white-ball game: his cousin ROBBIE SCHAW played 17 T20s for the Stags in the early days of the format.

Now the latest Schaw is set to play first T20 match on his regional home turf of McLean Park - a special day, with Hawke’s Bay reps used to playing their rep games across the road at Nelson Park.

It’s the first of two doubleheaders in the space of three days, the Hinds and Stags back at McLean Park on Friday for a taste of the Canterbury Magicians and Kings, with the Stags to play that day’s match under lights.

"It’s awesome as I haven't played a T20 here before,” says Schaw. 

“So it’s exciting, and I’m just looking forward to seeing the boys bounce back [after their hefty eight-wicket defeat against the Otago Volts on Sunday]."

That top-of-the-table clash in Palmerston North was a one-sided affair with the Volts consequently overtaking the Stags at the top of the men’s table.

But with three wins under the belt already from five games, Schaw says it shouldn’t take long for the Stags to get back into their winning habit - and a victory tomorrow against the handy Aces would snatch back the national lead.

Only two points separate the Volts from the Stags, four points on the table for a win, but Schaw said the Stags know they can’t take the Aucklanders for granted in the first of two T20 matchdays at McLean Park this week.

“The Aces have been going good. It’s a hard competition to gauge at the moment because everyone’s sort of beating everyone, but they bring their challenges. 

"They’ve got a lot of big power hitters [including IPL signing Bevon-John Jacobs] and a lot of bowlers with change-ups, and good slower bowlers, so it brings another challenge that we haven't faced this season.

"I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Stags are keeping the faith and have named an unchanged squad for tomorrow’s match against the Aces.

The Hinds have meanwhile made one change to their twelve, uncapped Manawatū pace bowler JESS OGDEN returning to the squad for WHITE FERN ROSEMARY MAIR.

Leading seamer Mair is out with injury after she landed awkwardly on her elbow during Sunday’s four-wicket loss to the Otago Sparks.

The Hinds are praying Hawke’s Bay will deliver their first win of their campaign, in the sixth of 10 rounds, after a luckless start to their 2024/25 T20 season.

Tomorrow’s round is technically an Auckland home fixture, with the matches hosted by CD Cricket in Napier due to the unavailabiliy of Auckland grounds.

Tickets are available at www.cdcricket.co.nz 

ROUND SIX

McLean Park, Napier

Wednesday 15 January 2025

12.40PM (Hinds) | 4.25PM (Stags)

v

Auckland Hearts and Aces

Tom Bruce — captain, Taranaki

Jack Boyle — Hawke’s Bay

Will Clark — Hawke’s Bay

Josh Clarkson — Nelson

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper, Manawatū

Joey Field  — Hawke’s Bay

Toby Findlay — Hawke’s Bay

Curtis Heaphy  —  Manawatū

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Brett Randell  —  Nelson

Angus Schaw — Hawke’s Bay

Blair Tickner — Hawke’s Bay

Head Coach: Ben F. Smith

Assistant Coach: Glenn Pocknall

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

Ajaz Patel, Mason Hughes, Brad Schmulian, Ewald Schreuder, Will Young

Mikaela Greig — captain, Manawatū

Aniela Apperley — Hawke’s Bay

Hollie Armitage — overseas player

Georgia Atkinson — Wairarapa

Ocean Bartlett  — Wairarapa

Flora Devonshire — Hawke’s Bay

Kate Gaging — wicketkeeper, Nelson

Claudia Green — Nelson

Thamsyn Newton — Hawke’s Bay

Jess Ogden — uncapped, Manawatū

Hannah Rowe — Manawatū

Kerry Tomlinson — Hawke’s Bay

Head Coach: Deepak Joon

Assistant Coach: Greg Hay

Contracted players unavailable for selection

Ashtuti Kumar (return to play protocol following knee surgery), Rosemary Mair (injury)

Article added: Tuesday 14 January 2025