The State Northern Knights will host the State Otago Volts in the State Shield one-day domestic final at Seddon Park in Hamilton this Saturday.
Defending champions Otago stormed into the final after they crushed the State Canterbury Wizards by eight wickets in the knock-out semi final in Christchurch on Wednesday.
The Volts will be without their captain and most consistent batsman, Craig Cumming, who has been called into the BLACKCAPS as cover for the injured Jesse Ryder.
Cumming who is averaging over 70 this season and is fourth in the State Shield MVP list will be a huge loss for the southerner’s but it is their bowling that has been their strength this season.
South African born Neil Wagner is the competition’s leading wicket taker with 23 while fellow international import Dimitri Mascarenhas has been the most economical going at only 3.45 an over.
Wagner is second in the State Shield and overall MVP rankings and is mounting a challenge to State Wellington Firebird Graham Napier, who still leads the pack.
They also have the experienced Warren McSkimming and Ian Butler as well as useful spinner Nathan McCullum.
In contrast it has been the Northern batting that has produced and chased down high scores this season.
The Knights will be looking to their experienced top order of Michael Parlane, Hamish Marshall and James Marshall to get on top of the Otago attack. All three are in the top ten State Shield MVP batting rankings.
Northern also have the youthful talent of BJ Watling who has racked up 481 State Shield runs this season - second only to Stag’s captain Mathew Sinclair.
Kane Williamson and the unorthodox Peter McGlashan are potential match winners in the middle order – the pair posted a record 196 run partnership in the Knights last outing.
The hosts will be without their strike bowler Trent Boult who earned a BLACKCAPS call up and will rely on Brent Arnel, Bradley Scott and Graeme Aldridge to take wickets at the top.
Wiley spinner Bruce Martin has been training with the side and is expected to be available for the final.
With the strike power of the Volts attack against the batting brilliance of the Knights this final the potential to be a classic.
Prices: Adults $10, children five-15 and senior citizens $5, under-fives free.
Top MVP performers
State Northern Knights
|
State Shield Ranking
|
MVP Points | MVP Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BJ Watling |
8
|
98.31 | 9.83 |
| Brent Arnel |
13
|
88.69 | 11.09 |
| J Yovich |
14
|
85.93 | 10.74 |
| Kane Williamson |
16
|
83.29 | 8.33 |
State Otago Volts
|
State Shield Ranking
|
MVP Points | MVP Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Wagner |
2
|
139.30 | 13.93 |
| Dimitri Mascarenhas |
10
|
92.40 | 10.27 |
| Ian Butler |
12
|
91.18 | 10.13 |
| Nathan McCullum |
20
|
78.12 | 7.81 |
