With two disappointing results for Otago Country in its first
two matches of the Hawke Cup season, it will be looking to
get back on track this weekend against Mid Canterbury at
Molyneux Park in Alexandra.
An outright loss to Southland and then a first-innings defeat
to North Otago a fortnight ago have put the side on the back
foot.
There have been some positives, with runs coming through
lower-order batsman Warren McSkimming and then a century to
Dunstan opener Scott Paulin against North Otago, but more is
needed from the top order.
Manager Mark Patterson was optimistic about his side's
chances against Mid Canterbury, a side that is a bit of an
unknown in 2012, as it has not yet played a Hawke Cup match.
"Yeah, they're a crafty old team of campaigners, though. They
are definitely a team to be careful of," Patterson said.
Otago Country has made two changes to the side for this
weekend from the one that played against North Otago, with
North East Valley and Otago B batsman Lance Taylor replacing
opener Jonathan Homer, and Sam Blakely coming in for the
injured Ben Purvis.
Patterson said the change at the top of the order was with
the future in mind. With only a mathematical chance left for
Country to get a chance at challenging for the Cup, he
believed it was "a good opportunity to blood some new players
and finish the season strong".
The match starts today at 10.30am.
Hawke Cup
Alexandra, this weekend
Otago Country: Brendan Domigan (captain), Scott
Paulin, Lance Taylor, James Pyle, Jarred Andrew, Cameron
Rutherford, Fraser Wilson, Michael Collins, Kieran Parker,
Sean Moran, Sam Blakely, Blair Brown.
Mid Canterbury: Rob Polson, Bo Houston, Jono
Print, Des Kruger (captain), Dan Willemsen, Matt Winter, Rhys
Phillips, Jason Morrison, Richard Print, Ben Mably, Kurt
Polson, Matt Tait.
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