Watkins on track for double chance

ALL-ROUNDER: Jessica Watkins wants to play in both male and female Central Districts teams.PHOTO/FILE

Jessica Watkin continues to make her mark in both men's and women's cricket as she attempts to become a double Central Districts representative in the coming month.

The 16-year-old Watkins, along with Wanganui women's teammate Michelle Mitchell, has been named by coach Mike Shrimpton in the CD Hinds team to contest the first two games of the season.

They will play the Northern District Spirit in a three-day game, starting this morning at Cornwall Park in Hastings, and then against Wellington Blaze on the same ground, December 12-14.

Watkins will not play for the Central Districts Women's Under 21 team at their national tournament in Lincoln in December as she will be representing the Wanganui Under 17 boys team in Napier that same weekend.

Wanganui cricket development officer Dilan Raj said the batter and spin bowler will be on trial to make the Central Districts Under 17 boys team.

"To my knowledge, it's the first time a girl has gone to that level to try out for CD Under 17."

Scoring over 1000 runs across all formats last summer, when she first made the Hinds squad, Watkin is now in her second season playing senior men's cricket in Premier 1 for St John's Tech.

Meanwhile, Raj reports the Tasman Tanning No1 block at Victoria Park will be in good nick for Active Physio Wanganui's first home game of the Hawke Cup against Manawatu tomorrow.

As the last games of the Premier League competition were played at Collegiate and Marton last Saturday, no senior club matches have been played on the No1 wicket so far this season.

There were considerable delays, especially with wet weather, getting the pitch and field up to standard, with the artificial wicket at Springvale serving as the substitute for club games.

Raj said regular groundskeeper Dominic Lock had been joined by his brother Tyler, who was utilising his knowledge from working at the Castlecliff Golf Club.

The block was looking the best it has in six to seven years, Raj added.

It behoves Dominic Lock to prepare a good wicket as he has been designated by Wanganui co-coach Rod Bannister to partner John McIlraith in opening the batting for Wanganui against Manawatu.

The visitors are coming off a tough eight wicket loss to Wellington City at Fitzherbert Park on Sunday, being bowled out for 164 in 46 overs before the Wellington side, which included former Black Caps Andy McKay and Mark Gillespie, worked through to 167-2 in 25.3 overs.

Manawatu captain Dave Meiring said they were still very confident coming to Wanganui.

- The Wanganui squad, in batting order, will be:

John McIlraith, Dominic Lock, Henry Collier (c) Jono Steward, Mark Fraser (vc) Max Carroll, Dominic Rayner Todd Inness, Ross Kinnerley, Sam O'Leary, Trent Hemi, Ryan Slight.