Our Bartercard Taranaki women face a critical match tomorrow

Our Bartercard Taranaki women face a critical match tomorrow – a must win encounter with Manawatu that will come with an extra emotional charge.
The Round Four Shrimpton Trophy match-up doubles as the Megan Washington Memorial Challenge Cup game and will be played at Feilding’s Kowhai Park.
Washington’s brother Shaun is the Kowhai Park groundsman and her parents also live in the town, which will add a poignant touch to the weekend. The cup was donated by the Washington family in memory of Megan – a talented cricketer who passed away in 2019 aged 28, having represented both provinces – and is played for once each year in alternating provinces.
Taranaki is the holder, having won a gripping encounter at Pukekura Park last season, while the Manawatu side are current Shrimpton Trophy leaders.
Taranaki sits two points back in third place with one win, one loss and two abandoned results from their four matches this season.
A win is key for Taranaki to retain hopes of taking home the Shrimpton, and head coach Debu Banik has a largely settled squad to choose from.
Both fast bowler Zoe Ellerton-Kelly and top order batter Aimee Wisnewski are out through injury, with Niamh Moriarty and Madeleine Kinnell taking their spots in the side.
Both played Taranaki’s last match, a somewhat flat three-wicket loss to Wairarapa in December, but the team welcomes back a host of players who missed that match – CD U19 representatives Charlotte Butler, Cara Hollard, Sophie Campbell and Anika Scott.
The team’s key senior players – captain Lucy Mitchell, CD Hind Grace Foreman, vice-captain Jessie Hollard and Kate Baxter, Emily Cunningham and Caitlin Marshall – will need to step up against a very good Manawatu side.

Best of luck girls

Full match details, including live scoring are available here at PlayHQ