We've always been proud supporters of Central Districts cricket, having served on two of the constituent associations, and been a CD umpire for many years. So naturally, we were delighted to see the CD Stags whip the Old Spice Boys from Auckland in the HRV Cup T20 final yesterday.
In front of the 4500 fans who packed Pukekura Park, CD turned on the fireworks late in the innings when Ross Taylor and Kieran Noema-Barnett added over 100 in around five overs. Taylor was senstational; 80 from 30 balls including eight sixes. He is now renowned as one of the premier batsmen in international T20 cricket; yesterday's performance was evidence of that. Auckland never looked like getting close, after the loss of four wickets in the first four overs.
The CD players were ecstatic with the victory, as can be seen in the piccie above. And fair enough too; there's a rich payday ahead for them. The win ensures CD's entry into the IPL Champions League later in the year, where even the lowest-placed team will earn a sackful of US$'s. That's a fantatstic rewards for some of CD's stalwarts - Mason, Thompson, Sinclair, How, Griggs and Ingram - the guys who have been the nucleus of CD cricket for so many years.
New Zealand Cricket must be delighted with the success of the inaugural HRV Cup competition. We are sure that much of its success can be attributed to scheduling it when the international players were available, and whilst we've missed international cricket here in January, it's had a positive spin-off for the domestic game.
Now the Bangladesh team arrives, then there's the real deal of the summer - the tour by Australia. We can't hardly wait!
PS - And big ups to the wallahs at NZC for their scheduling of the Womens T20 matches against Australia as curtainraisers to the Black Caps matches; we're planning to head for Wellington on 26 February, so if anyone feels like a convivial beer at the Cake Tin or downtown pre-match ....
3 comments:
UNfortunately I missed this victory as I'm in Australia, but would like to ask a few questions about the coverage of CD games. Why were we getting endless repats of the pink prancers from Pamilton and yet it took till the 5th or 6th game before any CD matches were televised?
The HRV format was as well attended as most test matches and so financially looks to be a major earner for NZC. It also allows the provinces the opportunity to see their national representatives live in the field.
As for the future of this format, given the players are so well rewarded for IPL contracts, it would be in their own interests to be in attendance at this tournament, so perhaps NZC needs to provide a cricket window in Feb/ March for the tournament in the longer term.
Are the flights cheap from Bunglesdeash, they seem to be here 3 times a year. After the punishment the Aussies dished out to the Pakistanis our warm up with the nearly almost rans of cricket is not going to do us any favours.
anon - who should have the pseudonym CDsupporterNo4 - behind INV2,legbreak and myself - there is a simple answer to the first point you raise. Aucklanders do not like to get too far south of the Bombay Hills so Hamilton is just okay but New Plymout, Napier or PN are not.
Your last question is easy too - no one else wants to come here or play Bangladesh in case they beat them.
Oi Pdm;
I’m Black & Gold through and through.
Although I’m nowhere as parochial when it comes to cricket as I am with rugby, which is odd given cricket’s my #1 sport.
I tend to fluctuate which is my 2nd team in NZ domestic cricket based on who is around at the time. For example, I’ve warmed to the Otago team in recent years in the way they’ve played the game, their canny recruitment, and the way they’ve turned around the careers of rejects from other provinces.
And I detest this current Auckland line-up. For a start, the way they got on their knees to bowl Jimmy Anderson into form a couple of years ago. Then, it has the whining self-absorbed Scott Styirs, the way they fast-tracked that Vincent mercenary into the side, and finally the circus around Andre Adams.
For me the highlight of the final was that their highest scorer was Neesham. Young, and home-grown; no there’s a thought Auckland.
PS: I warm to CD more when Oram isn’t playing.
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