The Wellington Blaze squad to play the Canterbury Magicians at QEII Park, Christchurch, in the Final of the 2010/11 domestic Women’s Action Cricket Cup One-Day competition on Sunday 30 January is:

Sophie Devine (captain)
Sarah Bradbury
Michelle Bunkall
Amanda Cooper
Lucy Doolan
Allex Evans
Melinda Hodgson
Renee Moffitt
Elizabeth Perry
Sian Ruck
Andrea Stockwell
Sarah Taylor

In one change to the Wellington Blaze squad that beat the Central Hinds in the two completed matches last weekend, Megan Wakefield drops out due to a recurrence of her hamstring injury and is replaced as captain by Sophie Devine.

Blaze Head Coach Mark Borthwick is upbeat about the team’s chances heading into the 50-over Final, Wellington’s third in succession and fourth in five seasons.

“We’re very excited about this weekend down in Christchurch and the prospect of lifting some silverware ahead of the Action Cricket Twenty20 Final at the Basin Reserve next Saturday,” said Borthwick.

“It’s going to be an arm-wrestle and it’s always a good battle when we play Canterbury as they are a well-organised side with some extremely talented cricketers.”

“They had the measure of us when we met in the round-robin match earlier this month – but only just. That game probably came down to a catch that was dropped, so we know we’ll have to be at our best and be in control of all aspects of our game to beat them on Sunday.”

“We look forward to our White Ferns players, Sophie Devine, Sian Ruck, Lucy Doolan and Liz Perry to play key roles in the Final.”

Devine and Doolan are currently ranked first and second respectively in the Women’s Domestic MVP.

“Another star player for us has been English International Sarah Taylor, who we are pleased to have playing for us in this Final. But her inclusion is balanced by the loss of our regular captain Megan Wakefield whose hamstring injury has flared up again and she will unfortunately miss this weekend.”

As part of the build-up for the Final, Wellington Blaze and Canterbury Magicians sides will be attending the BLACKCAPS versus Pakistan third National Bank Series One Day International on Saturday at AMI Stadium in Christchurch and will be on the ground at the halftime interval with a group of MILO cricketers.

The Wellington Blaze’s full Action Cricket Cup and Action Cricket One-Day competition schedule this summer is:
10-12 December v Northern Spirit, Seddon Park Hamilton Won all three games.
2-4 January v Canterbury Magicians, Barton Oval Upper Hutt. Twenty20: lost 1 won 1. 50-over: lost
7-9 January v Otago Sparks, Barton Oval Upper Hutt. Won all three games.
14-16 January v Auckland Hearts, Melville Park Auckland. Won all three games
21-23 January v Central Hinds, Fitzherbert Park Palmerston North. Twenty20: won 1, 1 abandoned. 50-over: won
30 January Action Cricket Cup One-Day Final, QEII Park, Christchurch
5 February Action Cricket Twenty20 Final, Basin Reserve, Wellington

ENDS

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