Zone 4 Hawke Cup action resumes at Molyneux Park, Alexandra, this weekend, when Otago Country hosts old rival Southland in the two-day format. Otago Country made a great start to the elimination series, pulling off a stunning, if somewhat unexpected, win over North Otago before Christmas.
The Country selectors have made two changes to their winning team. Former Otago-contracted player Sam Blakely returns to Hawke Cup cricket and Swaran Sandhu comes back into the squad after being unavailable for the first game. Blakely, the former Otago Volts quick bowler, should add an X-factor to a bowling line-up a little light on Hawke Cup experience.
The Country side will need to work hard to secure wickets on what promises to be a belter of a Molyneux Park strip. It has various medium-pace options on hand, as well as the spin duo of Tim McCormick and Barry White. Jonathon Homer, Jarred Andrew and captain, Fraser Wilson are due some big runs for the hosts. Southland travels to Molyneux Park, missing a few names from its fold.
Jason Domigan, captain from the last few seasons, is missing from the team list. Domigan, who has played Hawke Cup cricket for both Otago Country and Canterbury Country, has been a steady influence for Southland for a number of years, and his all-round skills have proved invaluable.
Shaun Fitzgibbon has handed over the wicket-keeping gloves to concentrate on his batting, as well as leading the side. He has scored plenty of runs against Otago Country in the past and Southland will be relying on his experience.
- Malcolm Jones
Hawke Cup Otago Country v Southland
Molyneux Park, begins today
Otago Country: Fraser Wilson (captain), Liam Cotton, Jonathon Homer, Henry Burns, Sam Pringle, Jarred Andrew, Tim McCormick, Barry White, Mark Knox, Tom Myles, Sam Blakely, Swaran Sandhu.
Southland: Shaun Fitzgibbon (captain), Bailey Andrews-Kennedy, Rhuebyn Prattley, Hamish O’Brien, Jason Osborne, Jarred McKenzie, Liam McWilliam, James Ng, Amarpret Singh, Dan Smith, Alex Tait, Kurt Thompson.
