Tremendous grounds, televised games and trophies all feature in a big domestic cricket weekend with the Ford Trophy reaching the knockout stages, and Women’s Domestic Twenty20 and 50-Over Finals today and tomorrow.
NZC General Manager Domestic Cricket David Cooper said “We’re set for some cracking cricket at some of our most picturesque grounds this weekend with finals places and elimination on the line. And for the first time, a New Zealand women’s domestic match will be televised live for fans around the country, in the Sparks v Blaze Women’s Twenty20 Final.”
In the Ford Trophy, top of the table Devon Hotel Central Stags host second place Mondiale Auckland Aces, boasting the top run scorer and wicket taker in the competition in the 1v2 Preliminary Final. The Stags’ George Worker has blazed 500 runs this season, including three centuries to his name, while Andrew Mathieson has 23 wickets at 18.43 to his name. This could be Stags stalwart Jamie How’s third to last match for the association.
They face second place Mondiale Auckland Aces, with the loser getting a second life on Wednesday’s Semi Final against the winner of Volts v Knights.
In Queenstown, SBS Bank Otago Volts play SKYCITY Northern Knights in the sudden death 3v4 match. The Volts are at full strength with Jimmy Neesham, Hamish Rutherford and Jesse Ryder in the line-up, while the Knights boast BLACKCAPS BJ Watling, Ish Sodhi and Anton Devcich.
Saturday’s Otago Sparks v Wellington Blaze Women’s Twenty20 Final at University Oval, Dunedin will be televised on SKY Sport 3, the first time a women’s domestic match has been broadcast in New Zealand. White Ferns captain Suzie Bates leads the Sparks, and goes up against international team mate, Blaze skipper Sophie Devine.
On Sunday, the Canterbury Magicians host the Auckland Hearts in the Women’s Domestic 50 Over Final. Amy Satterthwaite, who has scored almost a thousand domestic runs this summer, leads the Magicians against the Hearts, who can choose from five White Ferns including Sara McGlashan, Katie Perkins and Rachel Priest.
Ford Trophy
- 1v2 Preliminary Final – Devon Hotel Central Stags v Mondiale Auckland Aces. 11am Saturday, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
- 3v4 Preliminary Final – SBS Bank Otago Volts v SKYCITY Northern Knights. 11am Saturday, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown
Women’s Twenty20 Final
- Otago Sparks v Wellington Blaze. 11am Saturday, University Oval, Dunedin. Live on SKY Sport 3
Women’s 50-over Final
- Canterbury Magicians v Auckland Hearts. 10.30am Sunday, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
All matches live scored at www.blackcaps.co.nz.
