CD A roll out the Stags for series
A Stags-heavy lineup will turn out for Central Districts A against Wellington A this weekend.
CD A play Wellington at Fitzherbert Park in four twenty20 matches, two on Sunday and two on Monday and have a strong team full of first-cass players.
Whanganui batsman Ben Smith, who broke his thumb earlier in the season, will captain the team and other CD regulars in the team are Horowhenua Ka¯piti seamer Ryan Mccone, Manawatu¯ pacemen Bevan Small and Navin Patel, Hawke’s Bay batsman Brad Schmulian and Hawke’s Bay all-rounder Christian Leopard.
Hawke’s Bay seamer Liam Dudding and Nelson spinner Felix Murray have both featured in the CD team recently, while wicketkeeper Ma’ara Ave has played eight one-day games.
Non CD players in the team are Hawke’s Bay batsman Bayley Wiggins and his spin-bowling teammate Jaydon Lennox, as well as young Whanganui batsman and former Canada under-19 player Akash Gill, who has impressed recently for the CD under-19s.
Hawke’s Bay’s Matt Edmondson was unavailable for personal reasons.
CD’S performance and talent identification coach Aldin Smith coaches the A side, but will be away with the CD senior team in Otago this weekend for the Super Smash twenty20 competition.
‘‘It’s a very nice A side,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s an opportunity for these guys to push to get into that Super Smash side. There’s four games for them to push their case.’’
Wairarapa coach Neil Perry is the CD A assistant coach and will look after the team this weekend.
Earlier this season, CD A had four losses at the quadrangular twenty20 tournament at Taupo¯ .
They lost by five runs and eight wickets in two games against Northern Districts A, lost to Auckland A by five wickets and lost by 72 runs against Wellington A.
A CD XI also played two games against ND A in Napier in November and lost both encounters, by two wickets and 78 runs. CD A will play two three-day games next month, against Auckland A in Auckland and Wellington A in Palmerston North.