North Otago will make its fifth challenge for the Hawke Cup, the symbol of minor cricket associations in New Zealand, when it meets holder Buller at Craddock Park in Westport, starting today.
North Otago has had previous challenges against Hawkes Bay (1968), Southland (1991), Hamilton (2002) and Manawatu (2010), bringing home the trophy from the Manawatu encounter.
But its tenure was brief, as it lost to Otago Country in its first defence.
The Hawke Cup involves 22 minor associations from throughout New Zealand, divided into four zones. Each zone plays a round-robin tournament and the winner gets the right to challenge the holder.
This season North Otago came through unbeaten in zone four with outright wins over Southland, Mid Canterbury and Otago Country and a first-innings win over South Canterbury.
Buller's build-up was hampered by weather. Against Canterbury Country, there was no play. Buller picked up first-innings points against Marlborough. It made 161 and dismissed Marlborough for 115, Nick Cumming taking six for nine.
Against Nelson, Buller made 522 for seven. Andrew Duncan (157) and Troy Scanlon (118) were the major contributors. Weather meant that Nelson could not bat and the match was abandoned on the final day.
Buller's pace attack is led by Cumming and Scanlon, with Duncan and legspinner Max McDonald in support. With the bat, Duncan and Scanlon with be backed up by Michael Grafton, who top-scored for Buller when it lifted the Hawke Cup earlier in the year from Canterbury Country.
North Otago is a well-balanced side. Opening batsman Duncan Drew made his North Otago debut in 1994 and was instrumental in bringing home the cup in 2010, while Ben Cant and South Africans Stephan Grobler and Francois Mostert are above-average all-rounders.
Skipper Jordan Horrell and Grobler are the spin attack and North Otago will be hoping that Nathan Smith, who has been at the World Cup with the New Zealand under-19 side, will be back for the challenge.
The 17-year-old will bolster the young brigade in the side, which also includes Lachlan Kingan, Brady Kingan, Llewellyn Johnson, Jeremy Smith and wicketkeeper Andrew Grubb.
Hawke Cup Buller v North Otago
North Otago: Duncan Drew, Lachlan Kingan, Ben Cant, Stephan Grobler, Jeremy Smith, Francois Mostert, Brady Kingan, Llewellyn Johnson, Jordan Horrell (captain), Andrew Grubb, Brad Fleming, Ricky Whyte, Cameron Grubb or Nathan Smith.
Buller: Troy Scanlon (captain), Andrew Duncan, Max McDonald, Ben Pratt, Clint Harvey, Nick Cumming, Michael Grafton, Craig Adams, Alistair Burnett, Troy Adams, Michael Anderson, Frano Volckman.
- Terry O'Neill
