Wakelin stars despite CD-A triumph over ND-A

Kiwi Cricket Kōrero host and writer Ellie Indie writes about the Central Hinds A Women vs Northern Districts A Women fixtures that took place in November 2022. (Originally written 11/11/22)

The 5th November marked Bonfire Night for those of us in the UK, but elsewhere — it was the return of the Central Hinds A side to the circuit. It wouldn’t be surprising if the CD side set off a few fireworks after their outing though, as they’d topped the Northern Districts A in both the T20 & 50 over game.

As previously mentioned in the pathways & emerging article, this A tour has been a great step in the right direction for New Zealand’s women's cricketers. Nationally the pathways system does not look the same in every province and therefore tends to be differing levels in development.

The more series and tours we see like this, the better the game will become.

First, let’s have a look at the squads the sides went into the weekend with.

Northern Districts Women A squad:

Tash Wakelin ©, Eve Wolland, Amelia Harvey (WK), Elle Archer, Erin Hunt, Miah Smith — All formats. Hannah Kendrick, Brittany Jenkins, Ananya Sharma, Ella Farrell, Annie Ewart (WK) — T20 only. Jorja Neill, Yasmeen Kareem, Naomi Matthews, Aria Mischewski, Maddy Curran, Carys Aveyard — 50 over only

Notable points on ND A’s squad

They selected format-specific players. This allows more players in the set-up to get some exposure as to what it’s like at the top level, but also to play to their strengths as they’ve most likely been selected based on their best format.

A notable name in the ND A side is Yasmeen Kareem. Kareem played for the Auckland A side that took on Wellington A last year in a series of games, however, this season makes the switch to the ND side after going uncontracted by Auckland. While it's unclear whether she’ll be involved in either the Hearts or the Brave senior team, however, this could be a sign of things to come next year.

The skipper Tash Wakelin was given a sprinkling of matches last season in the HBJ and Super Smash. While she didn’t have a stunning debut, her efforts for both U19 and A representative sides put her name on the selectors' map — both Northern Districts and the White Ferns U19s. This season should be a good one for Wakelin whatever tournament she plays in, keep an eye out.

Central Districts Women A squad:

Sophie Pyott ©, Flora Devonshire, Anelia Apperley, Priyanaz Chatterji, Kate Gaging (WK), Anna Gaging, Jessie Holland, Sam Mackinder, Emma McLeod, Jasmine Odell, Jessica Ogden, Gemma Sims (WK)

Notable points in CD A’s squad

Unlike ND, they stuck with the same side throughout. CD didn’t quite have the luxury of pulling tonnes of players into the side given that they were the away team, but keeping the same base has its positives — especially given the success this side saw. It gives the players a chance to spend more time in the set-up and get comfortable with their environment in both aspects of the game.

CD have quite the coaching staff appointment in Assistant Coach Kerry Tomlinson (current Hind & recent FairBreak XI member). They also have quite a few fairly well-known players in the side, including recently contracted wicketkeeper batter Gemma Sims, Manawatu & Scotland’s Priyanaz Chatterji, and the Gaging twins.

This does look like a stronger side compared to that of the ND when you take into account the experience of some of the Hinds A side, however proves incredibly beneficial to the youngsters in the side through the knowledge of the senior players.

Game 1 (T20): CD A won the toss, batted first. CD A, 145–6 after 20 overs. K Gaging 75* (59), A Mischewski 2–29 (4). ND A, 143–5 after 20 overs. T Wakelin 55 (41), E Wolland 39 (42), A Apperley 1–25 (4).

The Hinds had a rocky start in their first match, losing their first, Jessie Holland, 5 balls in via Mischewski and Wakelin. Skipper Pyott played it safe after the early dismissal and finished her day with 18 runs to her name, but let the main show come alongside courtesy of the Hinds' newest standout batter Anna Gaging.

She saved the Hinds from further collapse, smashing it for 75 not out off 59 in a match where it seemed no one wanted to stick around. The only other main contribution coming from the side was Gemma Sims, adding 18 runs to the tally before getting caught by Wakelin off the bowling of Elle Archer. The ND pair teamed up to remove Pyott too.

ND’s first wicket fell in the fourth over, Farrell going for 6 runs striking under 50. After that, their skipper stood up and led from the front. Wakelin performed just as well with the bat as she did in the field, smashing the visiting bowling attack for 55 runs in just 41 deliveries. Alongside her was Eve Wolland she scored a 74-run partnership and put the Brave A in real contention of winning.

However after Chatterji struck and removed Wakelin from the occasion, it became apparent this wouldn’t be as straightforward as it once seemed. Wicketkeeper Ewart was sent back to the sheds toward the end of the 17th over, the Brave fought back however stealing 14 runs from the 18th over, but then Wolland was unable to stick around to the end after being ran out by Devonshire under pressure for 39 off 42 in the penultimate over, and by that point, the target of 8 off the over seemed unattainable.

Apperley defended the eight runs, only conceding 4 and taking a wicket for good measure — ensuring that the Brave would fall short by 3 runs.

Game 2 (List A): ND A won the toss, batted first. ND A, 149 ao after 30.3 overs. T Wakelin 40 (35), F Devonshire 3–9 (5), E McLeod 3–8 (1.3) CD A, 150–2 after 28.1 overs. S Mackinder 57* (51), E McLeod 50* (46)

After a close T20, this game could not be more the opposite.

ND Skipper Tash Wakelin opened it up for the side but found little support in her top order. She kept up the golden form from the T20 and played a handy knock of 40 (35). Though Kareem did not find many runs (16), she stuck around with Wakelin for 9.4 overs and prevented the Hinds from taking more wickets in quick succession after the fall of Neill.

Devonshire hit that middle order with extreme force. Impacting toward the end of the innings — which in this context was around the 23rd over — taking 3 wickets in 3 overs for 7 runs. She trapped Matthews and Harvey (2nd highest run scorer of the innings and bowled Mischewski, she and McLeod ensured a quick decline for the Brave.

16-year-old offie Emma McLeod put on a brilliant performance with bat and ball, introduced in the 29th over of the ND innings, she made an impact instantly. With her first delivery, she claimed the wicket of Elle Archer, caught by equally impressive Devonshire for only 3 runs. McLeod then bowled the 31st over, which she was unable to complete as she’d taken the final two wickets in 3 balls, Curran bowled and Smith caught & bowled.

McLeod played a role in CD’s quick win over the Brave A too, remaining at the crease until the end of the innings chasing that 150 by tapping 50 runs in 46 balls. She also put up a 100+ run partnership with Sam Mackinder, scoring a half-century of her own.

To wrap it up, the Hinds had a fairly successful trip to Hamilton, which proved that their efforts and hard work towards their pathway system and new players have paid off. It’s exciting to see where the Hinds and Brave senior and A team end up this season; the U19 World Cup on the way for a fair few of their players and a chance for some to earn their place in an exciting season.