Renwick takes charge of reps
Mitch Renwick will take the reins as captain of the Manawatu¯ rep cricket team this season, starting with the Chapple Cup this weekend.
The Central Districts batsman, who has played 61 games for Manawatu¯ , will lead the side for the CD one-day tournament in Napier, starting today, and takes over from Dave Meiring, who has relinquished the role.
‘‘He’s got a CD contract and he’s really motivated,’’ Manawatu¯ coach Mike Mason said. ‘‘He’ll be up for it.
‘‘He’s done really well, he’s been leading the guys for a couple of years scoring big runs, so he’ll do the job.’’
Renwick is part of a strong Manawatu¯ side that is full strength aside from New Zealand players George Worker and Adam Milne, so they should have a good crack at winning the competition this year, having lost to Hawke’s Bay in last year’s final by six wickets.
Making up the batting order is Renwick, Meiring, CD wicketkeeper batsman Dane Cleaver, who is fit after having shoulder surgery in the off season, Mason Hughes, Logan Mchardy and all-rounders Scott Davidson and Henry Collier.
United batsman Mchardy is able to commit this season and brings a cool head to the batting order.
Davidson and Collier, the only centurions last season, are both off-spin options too.
Another spinner they have is Dane Watson, who has moved from Auckland to have a crack at CD. Watson, a former New Zealand under-19 player, looks a handy bowler.
The seam bowling attack is strong too, led by CD players Navin Patel, who is just back from the indoor cricket World Cup, and Bevan Small, who had shoulder surgery last year, but is close to being back to full strength.
Experienced medium-pace allrounder Tim Richards is a proven wicket taker and left-arm swing bowler Caleb Gaylard is sharp.
Manawatu¯ have also picked up another left-armer in Ray Toole, who was born in South Africa, but has been living in Melbourne for the past six years.
Toole is working with former New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram as part of the Manawatu¯ Centre of Cricket Excellence programme and Toole looks to be a good quick bowler who hits the deck hard.
All the rain has meant Manawatu¯ ’s pre-season schedule hasn’t gone to plan, but they have been working at the grassed
indoor cricket centre.
Only a couple of the Stags players have played on grass this season in Hawke’s Bay, so the rest of the squad are keen to get out and play.
United leg-spinner Braden Rowe has been loaned to Wairarapa for the Chapple Cup, but is likely to come into the mix for Manawatu¯ later in the season.
Brothers Floyd and Whetu have been loaned to Horowhenua-kapiti as well. All-rounder Floyd will play for them for the whole season, while wicketkeeper batsman Whetu will return to Manawatu¯ once Cleaver is on Stags duty.
Manawatu¯ start the tournament against Wanganui on Friday. Semifinals are on Saturday and the final is on Sunday.