Taranaki have eye on maximum points
Revital Fertilisers Taranaki will be hoping the forecast is wrong as they take on Wairarapa in round two of the Furlong Cup this weekend at Pukekura Park.
Wairarapa are coming off a defeat by an innings and 13 runs at the hands of Horowhenua in round one and it’s a game the Taranaki side would have targeted for maximum points.
Taranaki will take some confidence into the round two clash having picked up first innings points against a typically strong Hawke’s Bay side.
The bowlers performed well in both innings in that game. However, the middle order was vulnerable with batsman four to eight combining for a total of 42 runs across the two innings.
This will need to improve if the side is to make a serious challenge for the Furlong Cup.
Coach, Debu Banik and selectors were hoping to name an unchanged line-up. However, a change has been forced upon them with Energy Ford Ryan
Watson being called up to the Stags team for the first round of Ford Trophy matches. This gives New Plymouth Old Boys seamer Kyle Pillay an opportunity to make his debut for Taranaki.
Revital Fertilisers Taranaki: Dean Robinson, Jess Vertongen, Josh Borrell, Liam Muggeridge, Adam Keene, Phil Barraclough, Davis Mills, Mattie Thomas, Michael Blanks, Kyle Pillay, Ethan Keller, Shay Smith
Wairarapa Team: John McKenzie, Jake Jonas, Ethan Childs, Brock Price, Jaco Vorster (Captain), Jack Forrester, Stefan Hook, Gordon Reisima, Gus Borren, Quinn Childs, Hugo Wakeling, Peter Sigvertsen