Cricket: Women's and development teams in action this weekend

The Bartercard New Zealand Taranaki women get their 2024/25 Mike Shrimpton Trophy campaign underway this weekend at Pukekura Park against Manawatū Cricket Association 

Features of head coach Debu Banik’s first team of the year are the selection of Taranaki’s latest CD Hind Grace Foreman, the return of a team icon in Kate Baxter, the inclusion of in-form batter Emily Cunningham, fresh off an impressive century for CDA and a member of the Hinds wider squad.

Other key players for the side will be returning captain Lucy Mitchell, wicketkeeper, vice-captain and CDA and Hinds wider squad member Jessie Hollard and experienced batter Aimee Wisnewski, just two games shy of hitting the half century mark for Taranaki.

Around these key figures are youngsters Sophie Campbell, Anika Scott, Zoe Ellerton-Kelly, Charlotte Butler, Caitlin Marshall and Cara Hollard. All have represented CD at age group level and all have now been in and around the Taranaki set up for a couple of seasons.

It all adds up to a strong team first up, and the side will be looking to kick off their campaign the way they did last year when they put on a stirring performance to outclass Manawatu – their first up opponents again this weekend.

But nothing can be taken for granted in this tournament, featuring also featuring CD Associations Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, and Nelson. Just two years ago the Manawatu side were undefeated champions, while Hawkes Bay took home the trophy last year. For its part, Taranaki has finished second place in the last three editions of the competition. They have the players needed to go one better this year, but it’s time to bring it together on the field.

The game is scheduled to begin at 11am on Sunday with the forecast for showers easing through the day. 

For those who can’t make the match, live streaming coverage will be available at: www.livenow.nz

Full match and competition details, including points tables, match scorecards, team lists and live scoring is available here at Play HQ: https://www.playhq.com/.../shrimpton.../game-centre/d94a0a1e

Development team in action

The India Today Taranaki Development team are set to face a good test on their opening weekend of cricket, playing Hawkes Bay in two T20 fixtures in Palmerston North this Sunday.

Head coach Peter Ingram has named a youthful looking lineup for the match. It features Whitaker Civil Taranaki squad members, Jacob Leuthard-Richard who will captain the side, keeper Ngoni Mupumba, fast bowlers Chris Logan and Asher Ryan and top order bat Taene Nelley.

Alongside these players are NPBHS First XI players Jamie Ingram and Logan Hislop, FDMC’s Lucas Vassiliou, and club players Mitchell Proffit, Zac Betteridge, Vatsal Gajjar and Sam Taylor.

The team will have matches this year against Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Whanganui and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Full details including live scoring can be found here at Play HQ: https://www.playhq.com/.../inter-district-mens-a.../8a568643