North Otago cricket will experience its finest moment if beats Manawatu this weekend and lifts the Hawke Cup.
The team is making its fourth challenge for the prized minor association trophy, and its strong line-up gives it a good chance of taking the cup to Oamaru.
The team includes three players - David Sewell, Duncan Drew and Darren Broom - who have played for Otago. Sewell, a left-arm fast-medium bowler, also played one test for New Zealand.
Broom, an aggressive right-handed batsman, was expected to play in the Plunket Shield match for Otago against Canterbury in Queenstown but was released to play for North Otago.
Much is expected from English professional Chris Smith, the player-coach, who toured South Africa with the MCC Universities team two years ago.
The right-handed batsman has not fired in New Zealand conditions and North Otago fans will be hoping he can produce his best form this weekend.
Sean Eathorne has been the backbone of the North Otago batting in the round-robin qualifying tournament and scored 158 not out against Mid-Canterbury.
The two best bowlers are Ben Cant, who has taken 16 wickets with his right-arm medium-pacers, and Sewell, who has 15 wickets.
Drew, Sewell and Simpson played in the 2002 Hawke Cup challenge against Southland.
Manawatu has become a production line for first-class cricketers, but the good news for North Otago is that Ross Taylor will be playing for the Black Caps against Australia, Michael Mason is in the New Zealand squad and Jacob Oram is injured.
North Otago, the second-smallest of the 22 minor associations in New Zealand, qualified to challenge Manawatu for the Hawke Cup by winning the Zone 4 round-robin competition.
• North Otago team
To play Manawatu
Ben Cant, Chris Smith (captain), Sean Eathorne, Scott SImpson, Darren Broom, Duncan Drew, Glynn Cameron, Paul O'Dell, Jordan Horrell, David Simpson, David Sewell, Glen Paterson (12th man).
