Olivia Roseingrave will be a key bowler for the Korus. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
CRICKET
CHRIS COGDALE
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Restricting Manawatu’s Central Hinds players will be the focus for the Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus in their opening match of the Mike Shrimpton Trophy on Sunday.
Allrounders Hannah Rowe and Mikaela Greig dominated Manawatu’s seven wicket win over Whanganui last Sunday.
Greig took two wickets with her spin, while White Ferns seamer Rowe took three wickets as Manawatu dismissed Whanganui for 193.
Greig top scored with 87 not out [67 balls] and Rowe scored 68 [75 balls] as they chased down the target in 32.4 overs. The pair added 147 runs for the third wicket.
Korus coach Simon Roseingrave said limiting the impact of Rowe and Greig would be important, but Manawatu had other threats as well.
“Hannah and Mikaela score the bulk of their runs, but they have several handy players, including top order batter Ashtudi Kumar, who has scored a lot of runs at this level,” Roseingrave said.
“In saying that, we have the players to win.”
“We’ll be very competitive. We have a core group of players who are in that 18-20 age group and have gained a lot of experience with CD age group sides.
“There’s more competition for places in the team and that creates a bit more pressure for the players and that’s good.”
While much of the Korus’ squad has extensive representative experience, the 13-strong squad for Sunday’s game includes two new faces.
Fifteen-year old Macy Lyford is a spin bowler who bats a bit, while the promising 14-year old Emma McLeod is unlikely to feature in the playing 12 and has been included to gain experience.
The Korus’ three Central Hinds players will be key to a victory.
Captain Melissa Hansen will open the batting and bowling, Monique Rees is a genuine allrounder and will bat in the top order and probably be first change bowler, while Georgia Atkinson is an accurate leg spin bowler and more than useful middle order batter.
However, Roseingrave stressed there was more about the team than the Hinds players.
“We bat deep. We have some top order batters for their school teams who are coming in down the order. We also have five or six handy seam bowlers and three very useful spinners.”
Medium pacer Olivia Roseingrave and leg spinner Ocean Bartlett are two players who developed well during the 2018-19 season and the expectations will be high for them to continue their progress.
The Korus finished second equal with Manawatu in the 2018-19 Mike Shrimpton Trophy.
Roseingrave is confident the Korus have the team to once again be a major player in this season’s championship.
Team confirmed
The Southey Sayer Wairarapa Korus team to play Manawatu in a Mike Shrimpton Trophy match on Sunday in Palmerston North.
Melissa Hansen [captain], Georgia Atkinson, Ocean Bartlett, Caitlin Elliott, Kayarna Jones-Dennes, Tahlia Jones-Dennes, Macy Lyford, Emma McLeod, Monique Rees, Olivia Roseingrave, Gemma Sims. Kate Sims, Hattie Vincent.
