Canterbury Country has earned the right to make Zone 3's Hawke Cup Challenge this season, after defeating Nelson on the first innings in the three-day Zone 3 Final in Rangiora.
Regular Hawke Cup holders over recent years, Canterbury Country had been the top qualifier for the Zone final, which features the two Districts from the South Island regions of Central Districts as well as Buller and Canterbury Country from Canterbury Cricket Association.
Canterbury Country had headed into today's third and final day requiring a further 26 runs to overtake Nelson's first innings total of 231 all out at Mainpower Oval and, after securing the first innings advantage, batted out until the captains shook hands at 310/8, Tim Petrie top-scoring with 66 in a team that also features ex-Canterbury, now Lancashire, paceman Will Williams.
Canterbury Country last held the Hawke Cup heading into the beginning of last season, when their longest tenure yet ended at the hands of Hawke's Bay in a cyclone-delayed 'catch-up' Challenge match at the start of the summer; and was also the Zone 3 Challenger last season against Hawke's Bay.
They will now travel to either New Plymouth or Hamilton to make this season's Zone 3 Challenge, pending the result of the upcoming Zone 1 Challenge Match at Pukekura Park - the first defence for new holder Taranaki.
HAWKE CUP
2024/25 Challenge Matches
Zone 2 Challenge Match
31 January-2 February 2025
Holder Hawke's Bay lost to Zone 2 Challenger Taranaki on the first innings
Nelson Park, Napier
Zone 1 Challenge Match
14-16 February 2025
Holder Taranaki v Zone 1 Challenger Hamilton
At Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Zone 3 Challenge Match
* New Dates *
7-9 March 2025
Holder Taranaki v Zone 3 Challenger Canterbury Country
At Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Zone 4 Challenge Match
* New Dates *
21-23 March 2025
Holder v Zone 4 Qualifier
At Holder's Home Ground
