A willing cricket spirit as long as her body is able

BRING ON THE HINDS: Kerry Tomlinson (left) and Mel Knight get in some practice ahead of the Northern Spirit’s games against Central Hinds, who are bottom of both the twenty20 and one-day standings.Picture by Paul Rickard

MEL Knight thought her Northern Spirit career was over after breaking her ankle last year and not being included in the side’s first four rounds of the women’s national cricket league this season.

But the Poverty Bay women’s development officer has been recalled to the Spirit for their round 5 twenty20 and one-day games against Central Hinds, which started in Hastings today.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play with the team again,” Knight said this week.

Former Poverty Bay player Kerry Tomlinson, who lives in Hamilton but plays her club cricket in Auckland for Takapuna, is also in the Spirit side, who follow today’s T20 games with two one-day matches over the weekend.

“I didn’t really want the broken ankle from last year to be the way I’d finish my career with Spirit but it was looking that way for a while,” Knight said.

“I’m not ready to give it up yet. I’m keen to play for the Spirit this year and as long as the body holds out. I feel I’m playing well and probably bowling the best I have in many seasons. A lot of that could be down to playing more club cricket. I’m really enjoying playing for Horouta (men’s team) this season.”

Knight scored 22 not out and shared in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership with Duncan Gibson (77) in Horouta’s win against Gisborne Boys’ High School (2) in a DJ Barry Cup 40-overs game last weekend.

Knight conceded 12 runs from her six overs as Horouta moved into third spot on the table with two rounds to go to the top-four playoffs.

Tayla HollisKevin Hollis Glass Pirates and Poverty Bay medium pace bowler Tayla Hollis, who made her debut for the Spirit this season, is not in the squad.

“Tayla played well but she’s only 16 and has plenty of time to go on and become a regular in the Spirit as long as she continues to work hard at her game,” Knight said.

“It’s more a question of them (Spirit) looking after her and not rushing her. It’s also a chance to have a look at some other players.

“It would have been good to play alongside someone I’ve coached for the past four-to-five-years — hopefully next year.”

Wicketkeeper/batswoman Tomlinson helped Takapuna win the Auckland premier cricket 50-overs title and reach the T20 final, where they were beaten by University.

“The standard of cricket in the Auckland competitions is so much higher than in Hamilton so I don’t mind travelling up every weekend,” she said. “Takapuna pay for my expenses, which is great, and we’ve got a great coach in Chris Reid, who has organised for us to go to Melbourne in October to get some exposure to the women’s Big Bash League.”

The Spirit are fifth on the T20 (six points) and one-day (six points) standings, both of which are led by Canterbury Magicians.

Tomlinson’s best scores for the domestic season have come in one-day games — 33 not out against Auckland Hearts in November and 43 off 51 balls against Otago Sparks in early January.