Central Stags roll into town
Manawatū ’s busy first-class cricket season gets under way next week as the Central Districts men come to town.
CD will play Wellington in a four-day Plunket Shield match at Fitzherbert Park, starting on Monday,
Last season Palmerston North hosted a Plunket Shield match between CD and Canterbury, which was the first time the city had hosted a Plunket Shield game since 2008.
CD are playing all three formats in Palmerston North this summer with a one-day game against Wellington on November 30, a Twenty20 Super Smash match against Wellington on December 27, then a second Plunket Shield game on March 21.
The CD women are also playing Wellington on December 27 in a Super Smash doubleheader, as well as one-day games against Wellington on February 25 and 26.
In their three Plunket Shield games this season, CD have beaten Northern Districts by 279 runs and Auckland by an innings and 99 runs, and drawn with Canterbury.
Play starts at 10.30am each day. Meanwhile, the Manawatū men have their second outing of the season against Horowhenua Kāpiti at Donnelly Park in Levin today and tomorrow.
Manawatū started the two-day Furlong Cup competition with a first-innings win over Hawke’s Bay two weeks ago. Manawatū beat Horowhenua Kā piti by an innings and 44 runs in Palmerston North last year, but were upset in Levin two summers ago.
Horowhenua Kā piti lost on first innings to Taranaki in their first game two weeks ago.
The Manawatū women are also in action and looking to back up an opening-round win in the Shrimpton Trophy 40-over competition.
Manawatū , who beat Wairarapa by eight wickets in Palmerston North two weeks ago, host Nelson at Manawaroa Park tomorrow.
Last summer the two games between the two sides in Nelson were shared, with Manawatū winning on by seven wickets and Nelson winning the other by six wickets.
Nelson haven’t played a game this season, but will play Hawke’s Bay in Palmerston North today.