Queenstown Ballarat seeking to defend its title

THE Vincent Cricket competition gets under way today with six teams competing for the senior 40over Koford Cup and nine teams competing for the senior reserve 40over Partridge Cup.

Queenstown Ballarat is looking to defend its crown from last season and will be joined in the senior ranks by Queenstown Wakatipu.

Ballarat looks a little light on experience with a couple of regular names missing but has the very experienced Kyle Paterson still in the mix alongside Kevin Loggenberg, Swaren Sandhu and Englishman Harry Gadd.

Wakatipu, essentially the Wakatipu High first XI, has the very promising Cam Jackson leading the way with plenty of talented youngsters such as Lachlan Marshall, Reece Collin and Seth Mawhinney mixing it with the big boys for the first time.

Former Otago Volts fast bowler Sam Blakely and Otago Country captain James Pyle will lead the challenge from Maniototo this season with Country player Sam Pringle and big Willie Miller adding to what could be a strong mix from the lads from the Maniototo plain.

Blacks Hill will have Barry White leading the charge with very able backup from the likes of veteran Cam Nicolson and Dave Lilley while Country representative Tim McCormick will add plenty of experience to the side.

Albion will again be in the mix with the impressive Tom Myles leading the bowling attack.

It has the veteran Corey Blair spearheading the batting lineup supported by Ryan Wheeler, Tim Cotter and Ross McGregor. Rounding out the competition is the team from Cromwell which has the experience of Mark Knox to back up the likes of Sam Pimm, Ross Anderson and Sukhdev Sandhu

In today’s games, Queenstown Ballarat heads to Luggate to take on Albion, Maniototo hosts Cromwell at Ranfurly while Blacks Hill takes on Queenstown Wakatipu at the Queenstown Events Centre.

The Crosby Morris competition will be completed tomorrow with both games being played on artificial wickets at Dunstan High School.

ManioValley will be looking to knock over the Wakatipu side and take the trophy outright although it will need to get rid of the dangerous Jackson who scored an excellent century at his previous visit to the ground.

In the other game, Upper Clutha will be out to beat South Otago to give itself a shot at sharing the title. The game should be a close affair.