All eyes will be on WHITE FERN and Auckland Hearts star Lauren Down when the second edition of CDCA’s Central Super League starts this week in Levin.
While her Auckland Hearts teammates in the big smoke are still waiting to be able to play in this year’s national Hallyburton Johnstone Shield due to COVID-19 Alert Level restrictions — and with the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand drawing ever closer, the WHITE FERNS opening batter jumped at the offer to gain some valuable time in the middle, and will join New Plymouth Power for the three-day T20 franchise competition starting this Friday.
The Central Super League pits four town-based teams — New Plymouth Power, Palmerston North Tui, Tararua Kotahi and defending champions the Levin Coastal Challengers — against each other in what will this season be an all-T20 tournament from Friday to Sunday in Levin
Central Hinds star Natalie Dodd led the Power in last season’s inaugural CSL competition but, with the Hamilton-based player still in Level 3, fellow Central Hind Claudia Green will step up to lead New Plymouth Power.
That sees Green reuniting with Down, both fresh off touring England with the WHITE FERNS in September.
Since returning to New Zealand and completing MIQ post-tour, Down has been based in the tiny town of Turakina Beach, Rangitikei with her boyfriend, and said she felt very fortunate to be in a position to play cricket whilst the bulk of the Auckland Hearts and Northern Brave squads have been locked down — and now currently restricted to socially distanced squad trainings under respective Alert Level protocols further north.
“It’s obviously been really tough for them, especially now that the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield has got underway with other teams being able to play,” said Down.
"I really feel for them — most of their preseason has been done through a screen.
“It’s not the ideal preparation heading into a big summer of cricket, but I think that’s what this season is going to be about.
"We could be potentially underprepared, but we have to adapt and just play the best cricket that we can. Nothing replicates game time, so personally, to have this opportunity this weekend and to have been able to join in and play in the North Island Quadrangular Tournament in Taupo two weekends ago as well has been really beneficial.
“Everyone in the Central Districts region has been super helpful in getting me game time and playing opportunities, so as an Auckland Heart I’m feeling very lucky.”
WHITE FERN Hannah Rowe will captain the home side Levin Coastal Challengers this season while Central Hinds Melissa Hansen and Jess Watkin head Tararua Kotahi and Palmerston North Tui respectively.
Teams are selected via a tiered Draw, with marquee players spread across the four sides to foster emerging talent, and players picked from throughout the far-flung Central Districts region that spans both of New Zealand’s main islands and both coasts.
All matches at Donnelly Park, Levin *
* Level 2 Event attendance protocols apply:
