CD boasts ridiculously strong bowling lineup while Auckland has Munro factor

Auckland will host Central Districts in the Super Smash elimination final at Eden Park Outer Oval this evening. At stake is a place in the grand final against Northern Districts in Hamilton on Sunday. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi previews the match.

Dress rehearsal

The sides last met at Eden Park Outer Oval on Saturday and Auckland recorded a comfortable eightwicket win. Central Districts posted 174 for nine. Auckland spin duo Will Somerville (two for 30) and Roneel Hira (three for 22) helped limit the damage with regular wickets. The home team then cruised to victory, thanks to import Daniel BellDrummond and Black Caps discard Mark Chapman. Chapman’s undefeated 75 from 41 ball was a reminder just how dangerous he can be.

The Munro factor

Colin Munro might struggle at international level when he has to face the world’s best bowlers for more than an over or two. But in twenty20 he is one of the most destructive batsmen on the planet. He produced a manofthematch effort in his most recent outing. He has the

secondhighest T20 international career strike rate of all time. It is very unlikely he will pull out the forward defensive shot this evening.

One step forward, two back

Central Districts has Black Caps allrounder Doug Bracewell back for the match but will be missing power hitter Josh Clarkson and potent seamer Blair Tickner. Tickner is out with an ankle sprain. Despite his absence, the Stags still have a ridiculously strong bowling unit which includes pace bowlers Adam Milne and Ben Wheeler, seamer Seth Rance and spinner Ajaz Patel. Maybe one of them will be able to get Munro cheaply.

Deja vu?

For the second consecutive season the Stags will play Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval in the elimination final. They dealt the Aces a 36run defeat last summer, so they will be hoping history repeats.

Leading batsmen

The national selectors have fallen out of love with Tom Bruce but the Central Districts captain is the thirdleading scorer in the tournament. He has smashed 308 runs at a strike rate of 161.25. Opener Will Young has been productive as well. His 237 runs places him in eighth place. Auckland does not have a batsman in the top 10 but it has Munro, while captain Craig Cachopa has been consistent with 207 runs at a strike rate north of 150.

Leading bowlers

The poster boy for the paleo diet craze Mitchell McClenaghan has 15 poles for Auckland. The former international leftarmer’s economy rate of 9.00 is not too flash, though. Wheeler has been the most successful Stags bowler with nine at an average of 32.11. Rance has been economical, which is so much sexier than taking wickets. He is going for just over seven an over, while Munro has bowled just 42 balls for Auckland but picked up six for 46. Could the dibblydobbler have an impact with the ball again?

SOUTHLAND will be without key batsman batsman Harsh Visavadiya for its Hawke Cup defence against Nelson starting in Invercargill today.

The classy Indianborn player has been suspended for one game for showing dissent during his side’s Hawke Cup defence against Mid Canterbury a fortnight ago.

Initially he was handed a onegame suspended sentence but New Zealand Cricket appealed the decision and he will miss the game against Nelson.

It is a significant setback for Southland. Visavadiya has been in good nick.

He became the fourth Southland batsman to score a double century in a Hawke Cup game when he posted 223 against North Otago in Invercargill in December.

That innings went some way towards making up for the disappointment of being dismissed on 199 during a Hawke Cup fixture against South Canterbury the previous season.

Southland will still have plenty of talent to call on. Allrounder Jason Domigan has oodles of experience, while former Otago batsman Ryan Duffy has a firstclass hundred to his name.

Teenage spinner Ben Lockrose has had a handful of opportunities for Otago and the leftarmer appears to have a promising future.

Nelson has named a strong side featuring three Central Districts representatives.

Captain Greg Hay scored a double century against Otago at Molyneux Park in December and the veteran batsman is determined to capture the Hawke Cup for the first time in his lengthy career.

He is joined by Stags spinner Felix Murray and allrounder Willem Ludick.

Ludick, who is remembered for that over in which he conceded a list A worldrecord 43 runs, will add value with both the ball and bat. Despite that rather expensive spell, he is a very talented player.

Southland fended off Mid Canterbury in its first defence of the summer two weeks ago. But Nelson shapes as much tougher opponent. The zone three winner brushed aside Marlborough to earn the challenge.