Nelson’s Greg Hay and Hawke’s Bay spinner Jayden Lennox have been called into the Central Stags squad for Round Five of The Ford Trophy, from 11am tomorrow against Northern Districts in Lincoln.

Batsman Josh Clarkson has been ruled out of tomorrow’s clash after sustaining a concussion whilst batting in yesterday’s hard fought 29-run win over the Wellington Firebirds.

Struck on the gloves by Ben Sears early in his innings, the ball bounced up into the visor of Clarkson’s helmet and he sat out the Stags’ fielding effort after developing concussion symptoms.

Spinner Lennox comes back in to the Central Stags Ford Trophy squad for Ajaz Patel who in unavailable for tomorrow’s round. Lennox made his List A and Central Stags debut in the opening round in Palmerston North, against Canterbury, but has yet to bat or bowl for the team after rain washed out the second innings of that match.

Tomorrow’s match against ND is the last of the centralised rounds in Lincoln, and the last one-day appearance for the team this year ahead of the start of their Dream 11 Super Smash title defence.

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Coach Aldin Smith said the side showed a lot of character in defeating a strong Wellington Firebirds unit yesterday, with the Stags jumping from last to fourth on the table as a result.

It was an important victory for the side, narrowing the gap on the table behind the Firebirds (who sit in third spot) to just two points, while opening batsman George Worker is the top run-scorer nationally after four rounds with 236 from four innings at an average of 59.00.

At the conclusion of the 10-round Ford Trophy regular season in early 2020, the top three sides will progress to the playoffs, with The Ford Trophy season set to reach its midpoint tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s match will be livescored with video highlights at www.nzc.nz

The Stags will switch to the defence of their Dream 11 Super Smash title on 13 December, with the free-admission opening match that evening under lights at McLean Park a big rematch against last season’s beaten finalists the Knights.

The business end of The Ford Trophy will resume following the conclusion of the Dream 11 Super Smash holiday season window, with round six of the one-dayers beginning on 26 January 2020.

CENTRAL STAGS

Round Five v Northern Districts

11am Friday 29 November 2019

Lincoln No.3 Ground, Lincoln, Canterbury

Tom Bruce – captain — Taranaki

Dane Cleaver — wicketkeeper —Manawatu

Greg Hay — Nelson

Jayden Lennox — Hawke’s Bay

Willem Ludick — Nelson

Kieran Noema-Barnett — Hawke’s Bay

Seth Rance — Wairarapa

Brad Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay

Ben Smith — Whanganui

Ray Toole — Manawatu

Ryan Watson — Taranaki

George Worker — Manawatu

Coach — Aldin Smith

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Unavailable for selection

Ross Taylor — BLACKCAPS

Ajaz Patel

Not considered due to injury

Ben Wheeler — groin

Doug Bracewell — recovering from minor keyhole knee surgery

Adam Milne — progressing back from minor ankle surgery

Bevan Small — kneeJoey Field — side strain

Will Young — progressing back from shoulder labrum repair

Blair Tickner — shoulder

Christian Leopard — groin

Josh Clarkson — concussion

Article added: Thursday 28 November 2019