BLACKCAPS Ross Taylor, Seth Rance, Adam Milne and WHITE FERN Hannah Rowe will all reinforce their domestic team this weekend as The Ford Trophy, Women’s Twenty20 and the women’s one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competitions resume.

Taylor will make his first Ford Trophy appearance this Saturday in Auckland since his solitary match last season, when he was returning from eye surgery — a seven-wicket win for the Stags against the Auckland Aces at Pukekura Park in February 2017.

This Saturday’s away match against the same side will be Taylor’s 38th career appearance in a competition in which he averages 49.45, including his highest List A career score of 132 not out, with his BLACKCAPS career making such appearances rare, however, since the 2008/09 season.

Fresh from taking a new T20 International career best 3-26 in the BLACKCAPS’ opening win against Pakistan, pace bowler Seth Rance will remain in Auckland following today’s second T20 international to be available for Saturday’s Ford Trophy match at Colin Maiden Park.

Fast bowler Milne, who was named in the Central Stags’ squad for the Burger King Super Smash Grand Final but not included in the playing XI on the day, is meanwhile on track to add firepower to the attack following his recovery from a foot injury in December.

The Central Stags have won The Ford Trophy twice in the last three seasons and carry a one-point lead in this summer’s competition into their match on Saturday, aiming to make further headway in another strong white-ball season.

Says captain Will Young, “We’re obviously disappointed to have lost the Burger King Super Smash Final and in that fashion. However, we’ve had a few days at home to reflect and rejuvenate. We’ve put the loss behind us and now we’re only excited to play quality cricket in the remaining two competitions which we’ve started so well in.”

Points table

The first three rounds of The Ford Trophy took place in early December, the one-day action resuming for all teams this weekend following the conclusion of the Burger King Super Smash.

The Central Hinds meanwhile welcome back WHITE FERN Hannah Rowe who returns after a dislocated finger saw the vice-captain miss the previous rounds of the Women’s Twenty20 and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competitions.

Allrounder Rowe will play as a batsman only in tomorrow’s round five Women’s Twenty20 match against the Otago Sparks in Oamaru, followed by this weekend’s final two Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches.

While the rebuilding Hinds are out of contention for the national one-day title, with six rounds remaining in the T20 format they remain very much alive in the Women’s Twenty20 competition, despite claiming just one win from the first four rounds.

A back injury means allrounder Mikaela Greig remains unavailable while Nelson’s Kate Stiven rejoins the squad after missing the previous rounds in Palmerston North.

Women’s Twenty20 schedule

Central Stags squad for The Ford Trophy | Round Four

Will Young (c)      -  Taranaki

Josh Clarkson        -  Nelson

Dane Cleaver (w)  -  Manawatu

Adam Milne          -   Manawatu

Ajaz Patel              -   Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance             -   Wairarapa

Jesse Ryder            -    Hawke’s Bay

Bevan Small          -    Manawatu

Ben Smith              -    Whanganui

Ross Taylor            -    Wairarapa

Blair Tickner          -    Hawke’s Bay

George Worker       -    Manawatu

Round FOUR Ford Trophy

Auckland Aces v Central Stags

11am Saturday 27 January 2018

Colin Maiden Park, Auckland

Central Hinds squad for Women’s Twenty20 | HBJ Shield

Anlo van Deventer (c)     -  Wairarapa

Georgia Atkinson             -  Wairarapa

Rebecca Burns                 -  Manawatu

Emily Cunningham          -  Taranaki

Melissa Hansen                -  Wairarapa

Taila Hurley                      -  Taranaki

Esther Lanser                    -  Wairarapa

Rosemary Mair                 -  Hawke’s Bay

Hannah Rowe (v-c)           - Manawatu

Kate Stiven                        -  Nelson

Kerry Tomlinson (w)         -  Wairarapa

Jess Watkin                        -  Whanganui

Round FIVE Women’s Twenty20

Otago Sparks v Central Hinds

4pm Friday 26 January 2018

Centennial Park, Oamaru

Round NINE Hallyburton Johnstone Shield

Otago Sparks v Central Hinds

10.30am Saturday 27 January 2018

Centennial Park, Oamaru

Round TEN Hallyburton Johnstone Shield

Otago Sparks v Central Hinds

10.00am Sunday 28 January 2018

Centennial Park, Oamaru

Livescoring all games: visit nzc.nz

Twitter updates: @CentralStags (Stags) and @CDCricket (Hinds)

Official hashtags: #FordTrophy #LoveTheStags #WT20 #HBJShield #CentralHinds