Seam attack bristling

Manawatu¯ have loaded up their seam bowling stocks for the first two-day Hawke Cup match of the summer.

Manawatu¯ play Taranaki in New Plymouth this weekend in the first round of Furlong Cup matches, the Central Districts competition to decide who gets a Hawke Cup challenge.

Taranaki was the Hawke Cup challenger from CD last season.

CD pace bowler Bevan Small has been released to play for Manawatu¯ this weekend and while he can bowl only 16 overs, he makes the bowling attack more formidable.

Small can hold his own as a batsman too. On Thursday, he scored 124 from 105 balls for a CD XI against Northern Districts A at Napier.

Manawatu¯ seamer Navin Patel is still with the CD squad as batsman Ben Smith has broken his thumb.

Alongside Small will be Carlos Jensen, Ray Toole, Jack Gleeson and Phil Mecredy. Gleeson and Mecredy were both in great form for the Manawatu¯ emerging players team in Hawke’s Bay last weekend, with four and five wickets each.

Toole was a standout bowler last season, while Jensen has shown good potential.

Captain and all-rounder Tim Richards is sure to bowl a lot of overs and leg-spinner Braden Rowe is Manawatu¯ ’s other bowling option.

‘‘We think it’s quite a strong seam attack,’’ player-coach Dave Meiring said. ‘‘We’ve got the four seamers and Bevan, so five seamers are a bit of a luxury when you want to take 20 wickets.’’

Mason Hughes and Whetu na Nagara will open the batting, with the experienced trio of Trent Mcgrath, Meiring and Logan Mchardy up next in the lineup.

Mcgrath top scored in Manawatu¯ ’s loss to Hawke’s Bay last weekend and has been given the No 3 batting spot. Mcgrath came into the Manawatu¯ team last summer but has played rep cricket for Taranaki and Horowhenua Ka¯ piti.

Meiring said the onus would be on the top six to score, so they could back the bowlers to do the job.

All-rounder Scott Davidson was unavailable with a knee injury.

Taranaki have a few new players this season. But they still have this year’s New Zealand under-19 captain Kaylum Boshier, former CD batsman Dean Robinson, fringe CD seamer Ryan Watson and experienced all-rounder Mattie Thomas.

In other matches this weekend, Wairarapa host Horowhenua Ka¯ piti in Masterton and Hawke’s Bay play Whanganui in Napier.