Cricket: Old rivals meet yet again

The experienced Emily Drumm will play a key role with the bat for Auckland. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Auckland coach Wally Stamp will be looking to opening outswing bowler Natalie Scripps in his attempt to turn back the clock in tomorrow's State League final in Christchurch.

The showpiece of women's domestic cricket will be played at the Harewood club's Redwood Park ground, with hosts Canterbury keen to do better than last year's washed-out final.

With that no-result, the title was shared by Wellington and Canterbury but a rule change would now see Canterbury, as top qualifiers from 10 round-robin matches in which they finished seven points clear, take the crown if no play is possible tomorrow or on Sunday's reserve day.

Stamp is itching for some action. After four successful seasons with Auckland, he stepped aside last season and watched as the team struggled into fourth place, losing any chance of defending their title.

Now back at the helm, Stamp is keen for a fifth title.

"Much will depend on our top order of Rebecca Rolls, Ros Kember, Emily Drumm, Victoria Lind and Helen Watson," he said. "If they, with some help from the middle order, can post a decent score, we are in with a chance."

Scripps could be the key.

The first New Zealand woman to take 100 wickets in the domestic competition, she will be crucial as Auckland play a Canterbury team boasting five internationals and coached by former New Zealand star Kirsty Flavell.

The two round-robin matches between the two sides - both played at the venue of tomorrow's final - were shared.

"Whoever gets it right on the day and can grasp the initiative will win," Stamp said. "There is a lot at stake with the New Zealand squad for the Rosebowl series in Australia and the World Cup in South Africa to be named early next month."

Auckland have a strong South African connection in their team, with Elfriede Komp, a regular for the past couple of seasons, joined by Shanna Coetzee, who played one game last season but has been a regular this term.

Auckland have Rolls, Drumm, Watson and Scripps as their internationals.

They square off against Canterbury's internationals, Haidee Tiffen, Anna Wilkins, Sarah Burke, Beth McNeill and Rebecca Steele.

Tiffen, who will lead the southerners, was last season's player of the year. Team-mate Maria Fahey was last season's most promising player.

Like almost all women's matches these days, the final will be of 50 overs between the two teams, who, with the odd exception, have dominated domestically for many years.