In the opening round of the 8th edition of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS) 2024-25, Northern Brave and Auckland Hearts will go head-to-head in the opening day fixtures on the 16th of November 2024. The game will be played at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui, and the live action will commence at 3:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Northern Brave Women
Bernie Bezuidenhout, Nensi Patel, Jesse Prasad, Skye Bowden, Marama Downes, Holly Topp, Annie Ewart, Tash Wakelin, Caitlin Gurrey, Jess Watkin (C), Yaz Kareem, Eve Wolland, Shriya Naidu
Auckland Hearts Women
Bella Armstrong, Prue Catton, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green (C), Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Fran Jonas, Josie Penfold, Molly Penfold, Saachi Shahri
Players to watch out:
Caitlin Gurrey
The 29-year-old top-order batter, from 9 HJS outings last season, accumulated 299 runs at an average of 33.22 and registered the highest score of 86. Caitlin was consistent in her runs, not just in the HJS but also in the T20 competition. She is a seasoned batter in the domestic circuit and can be relied upon to lead the scoring for her side again this season.
Marama Downes
The 21-year-old pacer, from 8 HJS outings last summer, bagged 12 wickets at an economy rate of 4.02 and registered the best of 4/34. Marama’s success extended to the shortest format, where she produced a stunning five-fer in what was a standout season. The team will expect her to build on the success of last season, leading the wickets tally.
Maddy Green
The 32-year-old top-order batter, from 7 HJS outings in the 2023-24 season, piled on 274 runs at an average of 68.50 and registered the highest score of 91*. Maddy, in a recent One-Day International series against India, managed scores of 31, 42, and 15, and she can be counted on to capitalize on this momentum, producing big knocks again this season.
Bree Illing
The 21-year-old left-arm pacer, from 8 HJS outings last edition, struck 11 wickets, including the best of 3/35, maintaining an economy rate of 5.23, while also finding some success in the T20 competition. Bree is a highly promising talent, with her left-arm pace adding variety to the attack. It will be hoped that she picks up where she left off last season.
Pitch:
The 22 yards at Bay Oval favor the pacers. Ideally, the batters should look to spend some time in the middle and then switch gears, seeking to play aggressive cricket, as a total in the 230s would result in a competitive game.
Weather:
With moderate winds, humidity at 63%, and the temperature forecasted to hover around 20°C, the conditions are pleasant for a complete game of cricket. The overhead is expected to be clear, and the chances of rain are minimal.
Fantasy playing XI:
Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Caitlin Gurrey, Tash Wakelin, Saachi Shahri, Lauren Down, Josie Penfold, Jess Watkin, Fran Jonas, Molly Penfold, Bree Illing
Match details:
Date – November 16, 2024
Time – 3:00 AM IST
Venue – Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on New Zealand Cricket’s YouTube channel.
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