Fresh off a thrilling bag of four wickets on Hinds debut, LIZZY COHR continues her Hallyburton Johnstone Shield journey this weekend when the team plays great rivals the Wellington Blaze in Palmerston North.

Saturday’s match is a doubly special occasion for both teams, with the VIV STEPHENS MEMORIAL TROPHY going back on the line.

Commemorating the Hinds’ first captain — and WHITE FERNS representative, the silver platter is contested annually in the first one-day match of the season between the two teams that the late CD Life Member represented.

Then-captain Mikaela Franks with last season's trophy | PHOTOSPORT

The Hinds are the current holder of the trophy after success at the Basin last summer, and are fired up to keep it in CD territory under new captain HANNAH ROWE.

Rowe has a perfect record so far in the 2025/26 national one-day competition after the Hinds defeated the Canterbury Magicians back-to-back in New Plymouth on the women’s opening weekend a fortnight ago.

Hannah Rowe | PHOTOSPORT

The first match was one for the books; a last-over, one-wicket nailbiter that went the Hinds’ way despite a huge century and four wickets from Canterbury captain Kate Anderson. The Hinds went on to chase down one of their largest one-day totals for the second season in a row.

Sunday had seen Rowe lead from the front with a half century and Cohr take her maiden four-for in a more polished team display, the match won with some three overs in hand.

Wairarapa’s Cohr had stepped up from CD A Women to make a fine debut — the 23-year-old taking a wicket with her first ball and claiming 4/35 in the 27-run win.

The Hinds head into this weekend sitting a close second on the national table, just one point behind the Auckland Hearts who were the only other team to win twice in the first two rounds.

Spinner Cohr gained her call-up at the expense of OCEAN BARTLETT in New Plymouth who was subbed out of the Saturday match with concussion, Cohr racing to Taranaki between the Saturday and Sunday games.

Now she potentially gets a crack at the Blaze in Palmerston North, a side led by former Hinds rep Rebecca Burns and featuring former Hinds Gemma Sims — like Cohr, also from Wairarapa; and Sam Mackinder, who used to represent host District Manawatū.

Those connections only serve to emphasise the historical close geographical links between the two associations, with the North Island CD Districts having been part of the Wellington women’s cricket catchment until the founding of CD Women’s cricket in 1979. 

Both Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 50-over matches are scheduled for 10.30am starts with livescores and a free livestream both days at www.cdcricket.co.nz and free admission at Fitzherbert Park to support the team.

2025/26 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield

Central Hinds v Wellington Blaze

Round 3: 10.30am Saturday 29 November 2025

Viv Stephens Memorial Trophy match

Round 4: 10.30am Sunday 30 November 2025

Fitzherbert Park | Palmerston North

FREE ADMISSION 

HANNAH Rowe - captain, Manawatū

FLORA Devonshire - vice-captain, Hawke's Bay

GEORGIA Atkinson - Wairarapa

ELIZABETH Cohr - Wairarapa

KATE Gaging - wicketkeeper, Nelson

CLAUDIA Green - Nelson

ASHTUTI Kumar - Manawatū

EMMA McLeod - Wairarapa

ROSEMARY Mair - Hawke's Bay

JESS Ogden - Manawatū

CATE Pedersen - Hawke's Bay

KERRY Tomlinson - Taranaki

Livescores | www.cdcricket.co.nz

FULL ONE-DAY SCHEDULE

Article added: Friday 28 November 2025