Top of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield table after a tight opening two rounds, the Central Hinds hit the road today for two big weekends on the bounce.

The defending champions head to Wellington today for back-to-back clashes with a strong Wellington Blaze squad at Karori Park, who will have WHITE FERN Leigh Kasperek at their helm this weekend.

     • Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Rounds 3 & 4 this weekend in Wellington

     • 40th anniversary season for defending champions

The third and fourth rounds will be followed by another away trip next weekend, this time to Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval, to play Northern Spirit who have turned heads with stong early season form with the bat so far this season.

The Hinds meanwhile made a great start to their own season, opening their account with a solid bonus point win against the Otago Sparks in Levin a fortnight ago.

They were forced to share the points after rain washed out their Sunday rematch but with no other side gaining a march around the country, it was enough to keep the Hinds at the top of the ladder.

Captain Anlo van Deventer said the side is looking forward to sunshine in Wellington tomorrow with the selectors naming a settled squad for Rounds Three and Four of the 10-round regular season. Claudia Green has come in for Melissa Hansen in the only change from Levin.

The free-admission doubleheader begins at Karori Park at 10.30am this Saturday.

The Central Hinds will also play a special 40th anniversary match against Wellington Blaze at Masterton’s Queen Elizabeth Park on 15 February 2020, followed by a commemorative dinner.

All former Central Hinds, officials and interested supporters and invited to register for the event here.

CENTRAL HINDS

Rounds Three & Four

50 overs match v Wellington Blaze at Karori Park, Wellington

10.30am Saturday 30 November 2019 

10.30am Sunday 1 December 2019

ANLO VAN DEVENTER — captain, Wairarapa 

HANNAH ROWE— vice-captain, Manawatū

CLAUDIA GREEN — Nelson

GEORGIA ATKINSON — Wairarapa

KATE BAXTER — Taranaki

NATALIE DODD — wicketkeeper, Taranaki

MIKAELA GREIG — Manawatū

ESTHER LANSER —  Whanganui

ROSEMARY MAIR— Hawke’s Bay

MONIQUE REES — Taranaki

KERRY TOMLINSON — Whanganui

JESS WATKIN — Whanganui

 

Coach — Jamie Watkins

Manager — Lisa Grant

Admission: free

Livescoring, points table: visit nzc.nz

Hallyburton Johnstone Shield schedule

Twitter updates: @CDCricket

Instagram: @CentralHinds

Official hashtags: #HBJShield #CentralHinds

Article added: Friday 29 November 2019