CD duo bolster Taranaki top order

Top players back for Hawke Cup clash

BY TONY BIRD

Taranaki welcomes back Central Districts players Peter Ingram and Tim Weston for the Hawke Cup qualifying cricket match against titleholder Hawke's Bay in Napier this weekend.

Ingram comes in for Aaron Zame, while Weston – on the comeback trail from injury and fresh from a century for New Plymouth Old Boys in a Taranaki premier grade match last weekend – takes the place of Ngatai Walker for the round-two Central Districts zone match.

The inclusion of Ingram and Weston is a significant boost to the side, bolstering the all-important top order, and comes in what is a vital early season clash. Hawke's Bay has won 13 Hawke Cup games on the trot and the cup holder is expected to provide Taranaki with its toughest opposition in its zone two cup bid.

The remaining 10 players named in the Yarrows Taranaki team played in the side that beat Wairarapa outright in the opening round in Masterton last weekend.

Taranaki was banking on Weston being available to play, but the selectors also learnt yesterday that Ingram would be available.

Ingram had a disappointing match with the bat opening for Central Districts against Northern Districts in this week's Plunket Shield four-day match.

Central Districts lost the match by nine wickets with Ingram scoring just 13 runs in his two innings.

Taranaki co-coach and selector Alistar Jordan agreed Zame, who scored 30s opening in each innings on a difficult wicket against Wairarapa, was unlucky to miss out on selection.

"Yes, I agree he is unlucky, but we've got Peter [Ingram] back and he wanted to play and he got permission.

"We feel sorry for Aaron, but it's just the way it is."

Not available for selection and being rested this week is Taranaki's other Central Districts rep Ewen Thompson, who got through plenty of overs in the match against Northern Districts.

Jordan is happy to have two Central Districts reps available.

"It's good to have first-class players back in your midst.

"It just seems to give the other boys that little bit more confidence."

Hawke's Bay started its season by skittling Wanganui at Victoria Park in the River City last weekend.

The Bay side is expected to have Central Districts rep Brad Patton and promising young quick Jeremy Kuru available this weekend.

Jordan said Taranaki needed to build on its good start to the competition.

He admitted Taranaki's batting effort was a worry in the match against Wairarapa.

"The top order never really stood up the way it should."

Jordan said the batting depth of Taranaki was a big plus this season with players such as Jason Dombroski and Andrew Mason adding strength to the tail.

"I think our batting in the middle and lower order doesn't come much stronger at rep level," he said.

The Taranaki bowling effort was a pleasing aspect of the win over Wairarapa, with pace bowlers Mark Wales and Daniel Bolstad both having success.

"It's been the first time for a while that we've actually knocked the tail over and bowled Wairarapa out in the second dig.

"They seemed to operate quite well and Daniel Bolstad came back and took three of the last four wickets.

"He and Mark Wales just bowled in shorter bursts and kept the donkey work to Jamie Watkins, Jason Dombroski and Hayden Whiting."

The two-day match will be played at Nelson Park in Napier, starting tomorrow morning.

The Hawke's Bay team is being named today.

Yarrows Taranaki: Peter Ingram, Dean Robinson, Tim Weston, Ryan Fleming (capt), Travis Stewart, Scott Davidson, Jamie Watkins, Hayden Whiting, Jason Dombroski, Andrew Mason, Daniel Bolstad, Mark Wales. Coaches, Alistar Jordan, Kerry O'Neill; manager Debu Banik.

- © Fairfax NZ News